The Evolution of Festivals
Nextival is “the next evolution in a festival,” according to its creator Billy Zero.
“I wanted to do something for families and kids because there’s not very much at a lot of events,” he tells Bay Weekly.
Nextival brings all that and more to the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds this weekend.
You’ll hear 40 bands. Topping this year’s roster for Zero is the D.C. band RDGLDGRN: “They’re a little bit of hip hop, little bit of rock, little bit of funk, little bit of fusion, little bit of indie, little bit of soul,” Zero says. “They’re probably one of my favorite bands on the planet right now, they’re amazing.”
Feast among 27 food trucks — ranging from Crabtown Curbs to The Coffee Table to Rita’s Italian Ice and more. Thirty-four merchants entice you with products and services.
Kids enjoy their own zone at Nextival, with inflatable entertainment and putt-putt golf, football throw, rock climbing, Lego racing and games.
If fun like that is too tame for you, book a ride on one of a pair of helicopters coming to Nextival.
The July 15 and 16 festival benefits Box Jams, the nonprofit Zero created in 2015 to connect kids with affordable music classes and performances. Even if Nextival breaks even or loses money, the sponsorship money still passes on to this year’s nonprofit beneficiaries.
“Over the last two years,” Zero says, “we’ve given money to MusiCares, Ronald McDonald House charities in Baltimore and AMFM, Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians.”
This year benefits the Capital Gazette Family Fund.