SunFest gets all the headlines. It's bigger, it's louder, it's been around since 1982, and its main stage is technically the biggest concert stage in the region on a festival weekend.
But the 561 Music Festival - our locally-named, single-day festival at Meyer Amphitheater in West Palm Beach - might be the better move this Saturday. And there's a real argument for choosing it over SunFest.
What It Is
The 561 Music Festival is a one-day outdoor music festival held at Meyer Amphitheater, the riverfront venue in downtown West Palm Beach. It was named after our area code on purpose - the programming leans local, the vibe is grass-to-stage, and the artist lineup is curated rather than crammed.
This year's festival runs Saturday, May 2, with 3 stages and 25+ artists across rock, hip-hop, Latin, R&B, and DJ sets. Food trucks line the perimeter. The festival footprint is walkable end-to-end in about 10 minutes.
Why It's the Better Move Over SunFest
Look, SunFest is great. If you're a festival completionist, go to both. But for most people with a Saturday, a few hundred dollars, and some festival fatigue from past years, here's why 561 might be the smarter pick:
It's smaller. Meyer Amphitheater is intimate compared to the mile-long SunFest footprint. You can physically see the entire festival from the main stage area. You won't lose your friends for two hours trying to find them.
It's easier to navigate. No 45-minute walk to get from one stage to another. The three stages at 561 are close enough that you can catch sets at all three without breaking a sweat.
It's cheaper. Single-day passes at 561 are generally lower than SunFest single-day prices, and the food trucks are more reasonably priced too.
The crowd skews local. SunFest draws from all over Florida and beyond. 561 is more of a hometown crowd - easier to run into people you know, fewer tourists, more neighborhood vibe.
It ends at a reasonable hour. SunFest runs late. 561 typically wraps by 11pm, which means you can actually Uber home and still be alive on Sunday morning.
The Details
- Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Location: Meyer Amphitheater, West Palm Beach
- Stages: 3
- Artists: 25+
- Tickets: 561musicfestival.com
How to Do It Right
Uber in. Don't park. Meyer fills fast and the surrounding WPB streets don't have great parking options. Uber or Brightline is the play.
Eat on the grounds. Food trucks at 561 Fest are curated from Palm Beach County vendors. It's a legitimately good food lineup - tacos, ramen, arepas, BBQ, dessert bars. Don't fill up beforehand.
Pick your stage early. Scout the schedule, pick 2-3 artists you're prioritizing, and build the rest of your day around food and discovery. Three stages means you can always wander into something new.
Bring a rain jacket. It's May in South Florida. Rain is a coin flip.
Meet up at a landmark. Phones die at festivals. Pick a meet-up spot (main stage soundboard is a classic) and a time in case you lose each other.
The Post-Festival Move
When 561 wraps around 11pm, the whole crowd empties onto Clematis Street - which is exactly where WPB's nightlife is. Rocco's Tacos, Hullabaloo, Subculture Coffee (late-night coffee move), or a walk through CityPlace for a drink at one of the rooftop spots. You've got options.
If you live in Boca, Brightline's last northbound back home is usually around 10:30-11pm, so check the schedule. Worst case, split an Uber with friends and sleep all the way back down I-95.
See you Saturday.
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