Smoother sailing for latest festival in Town Point Park

son't spend our $$$ in downtown Norfolk then see what happens.

It's all a matter or perspective. To some, Cary Sadauskas' use of the words "pissed off" is vulgar.

The City is planning a $11.5 million renovation of Town Point Park. There is question wheather Waterside will be torn down, which it most likely will and more overpriced condo's built in it's place. The downtown festivals will be coming to an end very soon. Very sad!

I assume you have the same concerns about the Greek Festival, the Italian Festival, St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, etc.

Seems to me you "not racists" are real concerned about anything that celebrates black culture. But anything that celebrates a white culture gets a pass.

If that's not the definition of racism, what is?

I was at Afram Fest for two days and I was at Harborfest for two days. There were numerous fights at Afram Fest as well as numerous arrests by the police and yes, there were also loud obscene lyrics played to a predominately african-american crowd. There were no fights, only a few arrests by the police, and no obscene lyrics played to the mixed race crowds at Harborfest. Stop playing the race card. It is what it is and it has nothing to do with racism. Just bad behavior by the crowds at Afram Fest. Now guess. Am I black or white?

Seems to me like Harborfest is more inclusive of all people while Af'Ram is divisive and caters to only a specific racial group. Thats probably part of the problem. If Af'Ram was really about African culture they wouldnt have Hip Hop or Jazz or Rock. Those arent traditional african music forms. Af' Ram, as its name implies, is more about african-american culture, which unfortunately seems to want to paint everyone different as "against them" or racist. Thats no way to make people of different backgrounds feel comfortable. It would be nice if people concentrated on the "american" part rather than the "african" part. Then we may begin to find what we all share and have in common. Isnt it odd that most european nations dont have this cultural divide between races. And yes, they had slavery too.

This makes me angry. The city of Norfolk downtown residents want to move near the Park and waterfront. But complain when the good old African americans come down for the Af'ram Fest. Afr'am is a festival to celebrate culture and purchase African products books and Art work. In the culture we like to listen to R & B , Gospel and Hip-Hop music. If you don't like either then don't move where they are going to be events like this in your neighborhood. I feel that we as African American get a bad wrap as far as festival events in this area anyway due to GREEKFEST 89 in Virginia Beach. Yes I said it!!!! We had a very enlightening and educational week-end at Afr'am Fest 2008. The Literary Cafe was fulled with Best Selling authors discussing the important issues that effect our community. And autographing books for fans. The Main Stage was cultivated by the sound of Dottie Peoples a gospel artists and the youn

I would also like to know about the vulgar, explicit lyrics that rang in downtown streets in the early morning. Afram ended around 10:00 pm nightly.....what time did harborfest end?? I would also like to add that the majority of the music played on sunday was christian music. I really believe people have selective hearing and they dont have a problem with what sounds pleasing of their very own. Its so easy to criticize something you dont understand. If you think that Afram is supposed to be about blacks parading around in african apparel and beating drums, you have the wrong festival...That festival is held in Portsmouth every year. Afram is a celebration of when we came to America....all of the culture that has been cultivated over time. Harborfest and Afram festivals are both large in size. If you cant stand the noise, move back to the countryside. However, the festivals should not last al

"There is a reason these people enjoyed Harbor Fest more and it's not because of a more family oriented atmosphere. Perhaps it's because the attendees looked like them."

Your right. Every size, shape, and color was in attendance. It's fair to say that the crowd looked like everybody on earth. Would it even the score for you if they called it EuroAmFest? It's going to be tough to write this one off CH as a large part of the entertainment was performed by black bands. I would bet you anything there were people there of every color happy to hear beach music that was full of beat and melody and lacking profanity. An all inclusive crowd as opposed to the exclusivity of the other festival by it's own name.

I did make an error about what time Harborfest use to end it wasn't at 2am as I previously stated. It would have been between 11 and midnight. I worked for the city at the time, and a close working relationship with Festevents and Harborfest as well as every other event in Norfolk from Scope, Met Ball Park and Chrysler Hall. You haven't lived until you stand on the top of Waterside garage and watch the police do a "sweep" of Town Point Park to clear the public from the area. I hope I never see it again. Harborfest was totally out of contol during the early years. People were bused in from eveywhere and the city was also out of control. The number of drunks was overwhelming. Later Harborfest committee stopped busing in people and tried to get the city back under contol. Harborfest is for every one and by that I mean every race. It's a fun event these days, but it was more exciting in the earlier days. I use to l

I actually could not wait until Harbourfest was over this weekend, just to see how people downtown lauded this festival, compared to A'fram. Racism is so alive and well and it is so obvious. I actually felt the boom from the fireworks going off Saturday night and at first was afraid until I realized what it was. I don't see how that disruptive noise was any better than what may have taken place over Memorial Day weekend. People need to stop complaining and stereotyping people that have a different skin color from them. People of all races celebrate their heritage differently from others, so one race is no better than the other. Get over it!!! What we need to be focused on is praying for our soldiers to come home, and that our economy will get better. Black or white, we all bleed the same color blood.

I have been going to harborfest since I was young. It never lasted until 2.00am. It was always over by 11.00pm. Why cant we just have 1 festival for all people? There should not be a festival for just one group of people. Black, white, mexican or what ever your orgin is, 1 festival only!

It's strange how the residents found the loud music disturbing but didn't find the even louder roar of the fire works annoying. But I must admit, it was much more family oriented, I mean there was definitely no one at Harbor Fest getting drunk, no one walking around in little tiny outfits, no littering.

There is a reason these people enjoyed Harbor Fest more and it's not because of a more family oriented atmosphere. Perhaps it's because the attendees looked like them.

Harborfest use to last until 2 am back in 1983 and a few years later.

I must say! Folks don't mind hearing music into the evening as long as it's the "right" kind of music. Didn't Af'ram have an ending time of 10pm each nite? I'm not sure as I don't attend either festival. And the person that "awoke one morning to vulgar lyrics"...I am pretty sure they had a closing time of 22 or 2300. They don't allow festivals to go on to wee hours of the morning..not in the good ol' city of Norfolk..no way.

...we should remove the priviledge of the "Downtowners" to host all of the parties @ Town Point!Maybe moving each fest from hood to hood so the entire town can experience it's flavor! Then...perhaps Downtown will return to what it once was...decayed and in ruin, and a place noone wants to go to!This is a test!

I would really like to know what morning, Cary Sadauskas woke up and heard SUCH VULGAR LANGUAGE, I am also curious as to Charlene Herzfeldt is rather prone to the excitement. I mean it does not take a a scientist to see the difference as far as the color barrier is concerned. Also Cary if you can determine your time of interest was it Sunday morning that you quote on quote heard the VULGAR language, because that's the only time when anything actually started in the morning. Answer this fo me as well if Afr'am was so repulsive and vulgar and oh my gosh all out dirsrespetful. I saw plenty of Norfolk Sheriff's at the park, and TONSS ON TONSS of Cops riding their bikes, walking around the park making sure everything was being done correctly and there were no disturbances in the area. Except @ Joe's Crab Shack as far as one of the managers showing her ignorance towawrds an AA author, but besides that you tell

Oh man, Harborfest was like raw chaos. I expect to see references to it in a Public Enemy video any day now. Loud wailing amplified harmonica echoing off the WTC... and the fireworks, I swear I saw a phallic symbol burst from a firework. I was appalled I tell you!

Most of the natives and folks I know do not attend Harborfest any longer because it's over priced and has little to offer other than funnel cake and baby carriages (which are dangerous). Let's move it to Ocean View, which is already inhabited by alcoholics who don't mind loud noise and change the name to something more appropriate for like minded alcoholics.
And by the way, you morons who live downtown, don't own downtown. We pay taxes in Bayview also.

I posted the other day about the entire Fest being blasted for the performances of a few. It's unfortunate the Pilot continues this story knowing the what the fallout will be. Harbor Fest was not going to be a problem because there was not going to be any vulgar lyrics in the music being played. Report it properly Pilot, stop beating around the bush. We all know what the problems were. Have the City of Norfolk require the organizers to "tone it down' next year and all will be fine. Of course then the City will have to endure all the complaints of putting the clamps on a certain group of individuals. And hopefully that's where eveyone else involved in AfrAm Fest will speak up and defend common decency. Hopefully they won't let a small portion of people to further bring down what is and has always been a weekend of educating and celebrating.