The Gathering of the Vibes annual music, arts and camping festival celebrated its 17th year this past weekend. The four-day festival at Seaside Park in Bridgeport boasted a lineup that included Primus, Phil Lesh & Friends, Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby and special guest Branford Marsalis.
The festival was started by Grateful Dead aficionado Ken Hayes in 1996 on the SUNY Purchase campus. Since then, the festival has become a tradition in the area and produced a loyal following who call themselves the VibeTribe. Each year they come together to renew their bonds of friendship and listen to big-name bands well as young, up-and-coming talents.
After moving through six venues over its seventeen years, the Vibes festival has been hosted in Seaside Park eight times, more times than any other venue.