Sunday, September 14, 2025
1pm - 5pm

Throughout the Central Neighborhood

INFO

What is PorchFest??

Since 2019, the Central Neighborhood Association has hosted a free afternoon event showcasing local musicians and talent performances played on front porches throughout the neighborhood.

Join in the camaraderie

as the community strolls from house to house!

FAQs

FAQ

I don't get it...a Porch festival??

While we love porches and they certainly play a role in this event, we are not merely celebrating porches. Homeowners throughout the neighborhood have generously offered their porches as temporary stages for our local performers. Think of the neighborhood as the festival grounds and the various participating porches as different stages, each with a different lineup. This is a music festival in a community setting.

How do I find the right porch?

We will have a schedule posted on this website, as well as an interactive map to help you navigate the neighborhood during the event!

Why is it free? What's the catch?

No catch! The homeowners donate their porches, the organizers donate their time and energy, and the musicians donate their talents, all so we can have a lovely, music-filled afternoon of entertainment and camaraderie in the neighborhood!

Will the streets be closed off?

Nope, traffic will flow through the neighborhood as usual. We ask, however, that you take public transit or walk or bike to the neighborhood if possible to prevent a surplus of parked vehicles. If you do need to arrive in a car, please try to carpool and aim to park in a nearby city parking deck.

How will I get around?

By confining the event to a single neighborhood, it is extremely walkable! Bring your wagons to tote around the little ones, and mosey from one stage to the next throughout the afternoon. Bikes are a great way to zip between venues as well! But of course, when walking or biking throughout the afternoon remember to stay safe, be respectful of private property, and watch for little humans.

So I did a good job staying hydrated, but now...

Say no more! There will be restrooms available at The FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

Redeemer Presbyterian Church @ 9th and Wadsworth
Friends Meeting House @ 206 S. Oak

Line Up

2025 LINEUP

Thomas & Hyde

Acoustic fingerstyle guitar and blues harmonica playing Piedmont, Delta and Chicago style

HAMMER'd

Using Acoustic vintage instruments like hammered dulcimers, concertina, bodhran and marimbula to play traditional dance tunes and historical pieces.

Christopher Thaxton

Acoustic Solo with foot percussion covers, Early 70s musicians inspire most of my repertoire -- Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Eagles.

Mellow Trauma

Hailing from the greater St. Louis area, Mellow Trauma started with Darin McBride and Emily Johnson jammin' and trauma dumpin'. The stories became ideas, the ideas became songs, and with the addition of Traverse City native, drummer Jess Rose, Mellow Trauma was born. Mellow Trauma is an emo, folk, pop-punk, indie, and whatever else we feel like kinda band! We write about love, loss, life, and all the arguments you have with yourself in the shower. Come cry, dance, and party with us!

Dags und Timmah!

A Traverse City based band in our 12th year of performing together. We focus on British Influenced Alternative Rock. Originals, and thoughtfully curated versions of songs that nobody else performs, rhythmically challenging songs - Extraordinary Rhythm & Groove! We perform songs for ages 16 to 96 years old with songs sprinkled across many genres.

Full Stop etm

Alternative Guitar Rock covers and originals

Smarter Than We Look

We are a small group of musicians from the TC Celtic sessions around Traverse City. We play mostly traditional Irish music, but we enjoy throwing in a few Old-Time tunes as well.

Drama Team

A TC based punk rock band formed by Joseph Black, Brian Chamberlain, Rob Cracknell and Tony Deak to cultivate and support a community that appreciates live rock music. Drama Team released their EP, Soundproof, in 2023 and their full length album, Broken People, in 2024. The music is personal and speaks to ideas of divergence, perseverance and collective action—bringing people together to savor the dramas of humanity.