VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach City Council got an update on the Something in the Water (SITW) festival plans Tuesday afternoon, after Pharrell Williams announced its postponement over social media last month.
Williams posted on September 13, writing, "Virginia doesn't deserve better, Virginia deserves THE BEST. So SOMETHING IN THE WATER has to match that. It just isn't ready yet. That's why we as a team have decided we must postpone this year's SOMETHING IN THE WATER festival that was due to take place in October."
The post fell on the same day hundreds of people lined up for hours to purchase tickets.
But on Tuesday, SITW Executive Producer Robby Wells presented the council with an updated planning timeline, optimistic about the event’s future in the city. “People show up for their cities in a variety of ways,” Wells told council. “Pharrell has a very unique way in which he shows up for his city.”
According to the presentation, festival organizers look to have proposed dates for the rescheduled festival to the city by October 19. They also expect to have contract with the city in the works by November 1. Both parties expressed interest in a multi-year agreement. Finally, Wells said he plans to have tickets announced and on sale by the end of the year.
“I think when we get the kind of blow back or the disappointment that we received, I think it’s partly because of the impression we’ve made,” Wells said. He added, “That commitment is better when we’re deeply understanding why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
At a September council meeting following the postponement announcement, some city council members said expressed disappointment and surprise.
“We felt what you call blindsided at that point,” said Amelia Ross-Hammond, one of two council liaisons to the festival team. “They have to build trust back with this city, because we’re not a toy. People need to understand that we try to be people of our word.”
On Tuesday, Ross-Hammond expressed gratitude for the SITW team's presentation. “It was very important that you came forward to talk with us because you took it to a more philosophical level,” she told Wells. “It’s not a cancelation. By you coming back and working with us as a city, to say you’re going to put some things down on paper. People like to see that lock in.”
For the most part, council was receptive Tuesday to moving forward with the festival. Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson told Wells, “It’s wonderful that someone who’s an international person loves his hometown, and he still embraces us.”
However, Wells still fielded questions and comments after last month’s change of plans.
“Beyond the disappointment in the fanbase,” councilmember Joash Schulman said, “there are some serious monetary revenue impacts in terms of having this festival rescheduled.”
Council member David Hutcheson chimed in highlighting the impact to the city’s workers, especially those in public safety.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re communicating with city staff. Those dates need to be pretty well adhered to so we can do our side appropriately,” Hutcheson told Wells.
In Pharrell’s September social media post, he said everyone who purchased tickets for the October festival will receive a refund.