Fans flock to Great South Bay Music Festival in Patchogue as 3

The Great South Bay Music Festival in Patchogue headed to its conclusion Sunday, on track to break attendance records and marked by crowds of eager toddlers and just a few drops of rain.

But the drizzle did not stop parents and toddlers from packing a village park hosting the three-day festival.

Festival producer Jim Faith said he expected the 8-year-old event to set attendance highs, predicting 15,000 concertgoers for the three-day period, up from an average range of 9,000 to 11,000. Booking performer Laurie Berkner represented the festival's biggest investment in children's entertainment.

'We wanted it to be more about families,' Faith said.

The event bills itself as a multigenerational draw, with acts such as BB King and popular '90s band Taking Back Sunday.

Faith said organizers, overwhelmed by demand, had to add more VIP seats for Berkner's band.

Faith said he did not know whether pre-noon rain affected the festival. By early afternoon, the sun was out and a breeze was noticeable as boats traveled the Great South Bay.

'Whoever we lost this morning we probably got them back today,' Faith said. 'They know this is the best place to be. You've got the southerly winds and a great breeze.'

Children and their parents swayed to the lyrical musings of Berkner, which dealt with ice cream, bumblebees, and fireflies.

Marcus DaSilva, 44, of Eastport, was back for more after attending Saturday with his wife. Sunday, he came with their two kids, and a cabal of friends.

'Today is a hot day,' he said, referring to the various acts. BB King is scheduled for Sunday evening, and DaSilva, securing pirate paraphernalia for his kids, said he may need to hire a babysitter for that part of the concert.

King is among the high-profile entertainers Faith has booked over the years. The Doobie Brothers performed last year.

This year's event is vastly different from the inaugural festival, which contained about 30 acts. This event boasts more than 55, a third of which are headliners, Faith said.

'I like to bring legends,' Faith said. But he cautioned, 'We never want to be a folk festival or blues festival. It's just about great music.'

Entities 0 Name: Berkner Count: 2 1 Name: Faith Count: 1 2 Name: Eastport Count: 1 3 Name: Jim Faith Count: 1 4 Name: Great South Bay Music Festival Count: 1 5 Name: DaSilva Count: 1 6 Name: Great South Bay Count: 1 7 Name: Patchogue Count: 1 8 Name: Marcus DaSilva Count: 1 9 Name: Doobie Brothers Count: 1 10 Name: Laurie Berkner Count: 1 Related Keywords 0 Name: faith Score: 37 1 Name: festival Score: 37 2 Name: berkner Score: 30 3 Name: three-day Score: 20 4 Name: dasilva Score: 20 5 Name: king Score: 14 6 Name: toddlers Score: 14 7 Name: breeze Score: 14 8 Name: sunday Score: 12 9 Name: event Score: 12 Authors Media Images 0