VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Following a delay due to wet weather, the gates for Something in the Water opened at 5 p.m. Friday.
Organizers for Something in the Water say the community stage on 24th Street will open at around 4 p.m. after delays due to weather.
In an Instagram post on Friday morning, organizers said the delay would be in place "until further notice" due to rain and high wind gusts.
"We will provide real-time updates in the SITW App to let you know when gates open," the Instagram post stated. "We look forward to seeing you this weekend."
The wet weather is reminding festivalgoers like Jake Guill of the first Something in the Water festival four years ago.
“I came in 2019 and year, it’s a little déjà vu,” he said. “I’m waiting in the 9th Street parking garage sitting in my car watching Netflix. Just trying to pass the time the best way I can."
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Guill and many others will have to wait a little longer to see their favorite artists set to take the stage Friday. Rachel Rossi said she’ll find something else to do until festival gates open.
“We’ll just probably get breakfast at Watermans,” she said.
Though, they still have high hopes for the festival -- both said they expect to spend the entire day at the festival as soon as the gates open.
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"As long as we can still see everyone we came to see, then I think it’s going to be great,” Braxton Younger said. “I think we’re all going to have a great time.”
And local businesses hope to see more customers throughout the weekend.
“I know it’s supposed to rain, but we’re still going to be open,” said Tyleia Elliot, a server at Log Cabin Pancake House. “So, I hope they all come.”
With the festival's opening delayed, so too, are shuttles that are meant to ferry people from the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater down to the Oceanfront.
The shuttles were meant to begin at noon and run throughout the day but as of 12:15 p.m. Friday, the parking lot at the amphitheater remains empty.