DC heads back to the '90s as HFStival returns to Nats Park

WASHINGTON — Pull on that plaid shirt — The '90s retuned to Nationals Park as the legendary HFStival was resurrected in the outfield.

The long-awaited return of the HFStival flooded Navy Yard with memories and fans. People were looking to relive that time when D.C. was the summer concert capital, and hope it could be that again.

“I’ve been to every HFStival that’s ever been,” Maryland native Cameron said.

We found Cameron and his wife, Vox, front-and-center for the comeback of their favorite festival.

“(When tickets went on sale) I was completely (sic) over the top like super excited!” he said. “Festivals like this don’t exist on the east coast anymore."

20 years later, Cameron says there is no replacement for the music or the venue. It's not just a comeback for the fans, but for bands as well.

“First year we did [HFStival] was 1999,” Lit guitarist Jeremy Popoff said.

Popoff’s band Lit might have started in California, but the HFStival feels like a homecoming for them.

“That was actually the first stadium show we ever played,” Popoff said.

“[Today] kind of felt like it back in the day, but this is like all the bands playing that were the soundtrack to a very great time,” singer AJ Popoff said.

This '90s comeback served as a family reunion for DJ's like Pat Ferrise of the legendary 991 WHFS radio station.

“I haven’t seen some of the folks I worked with WHFS in 20 years,” Ferrise said. “So you know it’s seeing your family.”

Same for DJ and local music showcase specialist Neci.

“I was very pleased and surprised (IMP) restarted it,” she said. “Because there is a lot of people I have seen in forever.”

While the crowd in the early part of the day didn’t match those 1990s levels, Cameron has faith in the festival faith in the vibes.

“[At earlier festivals] there were so many people you couldn’t move an inch in any direction without getting run over,” he said. “I hope they bring that back.”