NEWBURY — Thousands of people will soon flock to Plum Island to enjoy a day full of live music and fun at the 11th annual PlumFest music festival on Saturday.
PlumFest is a free music festival that this year runs from noon to 6 p.m. featuring over 100 artists performing at locations across Plum Island, including homes and businesses such as the Sunset Club and RipTide Cafe & Bar.
PlumFest President Shannon Kinney said the lineup, which includes The Boondock Sinners, Ava Valianti and Comfortably Plum, is full of local artists and young musicians, with performers spanning all genres.
“There’s a ton of local favorites. In fact, local bands are given preference when they sign up. We also have some young bands, students and young people. So there’s a little bit of something for everybody with us,” she said.
One of those artists is Pathological Outliars, a local band that features Newburyport City Councilor Ed Cameron on rhythm guitar and vocals.
Cameron said his band has performed at the festival since its second year and that they are “thrilled” to return for another PlumFest.
“It feels amazing and we can’t wait,” he said.
During the afternoon, finding an empty stretch of road will nearly be impossible as foot traffic can be intense, creating what feels like a massive block party.
Plumfest-goers can easily spend hours simply walking from one music station to the next. While most of the fun takes places outdoors, there are typically plenty of indoor private parties. Overseeing the occasion will be law enforcement from several communities as well as firefighters.
Given the large number of artists playing throughout the day, Kinney also said there will be a map to help people navigate the festival as well as transportation and food on-site.
“We have a lot of fun planned for people,” she said. “We’ve got an interactive walking map, free parking at the airport, six different shuttles running all day long and two different merchandise locations with programs and information to help people find what they’re looking for. There’s also food trucks and four different locations for grab-and-go food on the island as well.”
The festival is also financially accessible, given there is no cost to attend. However, people are encouraged to donate at performance locations, with the proceeds to go toward a number of local organizations.
“At each location, there will be a red bucket for donations and we take all of our profits and donate them. And last year, we donated more than $20,000 to six different deserving charities locally, the primary one is the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley,” Kinney said.
Kinney also said people of all ages are welcome to attend the festival and they are allowed to bring their dogs as well.
“It’s definitely a fun day. People bring wagons and pack lunches and bring bikes and family,” she said.
Above all else, Kinney said PlumFest is a day full of joy and community spirit with everyone involved donating their time for free to make the festival possible.
“Everyone that comes is just happy. It’s just a day of community and fun and everyone enjoying live music and beautiful Plum Island,” she said.
“Plum Island is gorgeous, especially in September. And so, people have such a good time enjoying each other and enjoying live music and being able to walk around freely and see music everywhere,” Kinney added. “That’s really, I think, what makes it so special, is that people keep coming back for that really good time.”
Daily News editor Dave Rogers contributed to this report.