VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Something in the Water Festival (SITW) will return to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on April 26 and 27, 2025, with certain stipulations from the City of Virginia Beach as outlined in their Sponsorship Agreement.
On Friday, Nov. 15, SITW organizers met Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer’s deadline to submit their contracts for the requested dates for the music festival.
The signed Agreement outlines the event location - 2nd Street to the Virginia Beach Pier at 1415 Atlantic Avenue - the city and SITW organizers' financial responsibilities and guidelines for event termination.
Virginia Beach officials have agreed to a $500,000 advance to be paid to the promoters in three intervals: $100,00 when the contract is executed, $200,00 when the artist's lineup is announced on or before December 31, and the final $200,000 when organizers apply for a Special Event Permit.
The city has also agreed to provide the promoters the use of various resort stages, designated public parking areas as well as rideshare services, the use of school buses, and the use of parts of the Convention Center.
SITW organizers, on the other hand, will be responsible for providing the artist lineup and "commence" ticket sales by the December 31 deadline, securing all necessary entertainment permits, including the Special Event Permit, hiring third-party security and EMS services, and providing attendance and ticket sale information for the city to determine the amount payable from their allotted Financial Sponsorship amount.
The contract also reveals SITW organizers' intent to have the festival in 2026 and 2027 under similar guidelines, but city officials state should organizers decide not to produce those events it "shall not constitute a breach of the Agreement."
However, should promoters "breach a material provision of the Agreement," the city will provide written notice via email. The promoters then have five days from the notice to remedy the situation; if they cannot "cure the default, the City may immediately cancel and terminate this Agreement," and the promoters must return the $500,000 advance within 10 days of the termination day.
The Something in the Water Festival will go on rain or shine.