Watermelon Park Fest, VA- 2020 dates announced: Sept 17 - 19

2019 was my first year as well. Had my eye on it for a few years. I had a pretty poor experience. I won't be returning.

I remember a laugh I had there; you know you are in friendly, good-people territory when the checker gives you advice on how to get a minor item past him.

“We didn’t know it was going to be so family friendly”
—Anonymous

I plan to be back w Mrs Banjer and the Banjettes

I believe what I said was, "There's such a thing as TOO family friendly," but in all fairness I have to submit that sneake was camped with us and had to endure my grousing about all of the above.

Seriously, if you don't get early entry, you can't get anywhere near the stage. I wouldn't care too much, but the sound where we were was...not good. And if you get early entry, you have to get there on Tuesday. I mean, they'll let you in later, but the entire front will be covered with chairs. That will stay there all weekend. Some will never be used. Because they allow that. There is a pit in front of that, I think, but let's face it - the pit isn't for everyone.

There is some shade in the back field, which is nice. An umbrella will block the sun, but it's literally a couple degrees cooler under a tree. Of course, it's also a perfect place for wee ones to play, so not ideal for those of for whom their exuberant little voices are like nails on a chalkboard.

But that can't be helped - during the day. Children and families have as much right to blah blah blah, but I'm accustomed to children going to bed. At some point. But Watermelon Park is Lit For Your Protection (and probably for that cop too, more on that later). For some reason, bright non-amber street lights are left on for the duration of the evening. And while I couldn't give a care that the children are given every manner of light-up doo-dad - no worse than the young adults - tambourines? Really? Cranky, over-stimulated, sugared pre- and elementary school age kids given percussion instruments? In the middle of Stringdusters?

And that security. Like some caricature of police brutality. Porn 'stache and all. Wore his gun outside his pants, for all the honest world to feel.

Now some of you parents and other with nurturing tendencies are probably laughing up your sleeve at me about the kids and the tambourines and stuff, thinking, "Can't you just tune it out?" No, I can't. I seriously can't. If I could, I wouldn't have bothered to type all this. I am, in fact, getting neurological and formal developmental disability testing, in part because of my experience with this fest.

But I'm not the only one who feels this way to some degree. I just want to be clear that it doesn't mean I, or anyone else, hate children or families.

Misty Mtn Fest 10 is same weekend, FYI

First Band announcements made:

watermelonparkfest.com/bands/

AND

2020 Tickets On-Sale Feb. 25 at 11 a.m.


watermelonparkfest.com/tickets-camping/

Much as I didn't love my time there last year...Bela Fleck, Billy Strings, and Sierra Hull together? That is SUPER tempting.