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Want to

Click the button below to subscribe to our occasional mailing list! No spam here - we’ll just let you know when the 2025 dates are announced on June 1st, plus alerts when the registration opens for performers, hosts, volunteers, retail opportuniries, and sponsors! We’re keepin it casual with 6 emails per year -ish

The button below is your source for Porchfest t-shirts, garden flags, tote bags, stickers, and more! If an item is sold out and you’re still interested in one, shoot me an email at

Sara[at]Vivid-Event.com

If I have enough interest then I can do a reprint.

Porchfest?

What is

Porchfest is a grassroots community music festival where front porches become stages, yards become venues, and radical generosity and goodwill rule the day!

Our inaugural Summerville Porchfest is a FREE one-day event showcasing local musical talent playing on some of the finest historic porches in town.

Held on Sunday April 28th, 2024 from 12:30pm to 5pm, it’s a walkable activity that provides a neighborhood map of Host Porches and a performance schedule, encouraging discovery of our beautiful setting by discovering local music.

Think of it as a roving block party, where the whole community is coming together to promote local artists with family-friendly fun!

So mark your calendar, tell your friends, and pack a picnic…. come on out and roam from porch to porch to hear some really great music. It is the ultimate sense of community - where every attendee, homeowner, artist and organizer plays a part in the overall experience. Set up within walkable distances, several homes will host a diverse mix of bands/artists performing simultaneously as neighbors and friends gather under the trees, porches become center stage, and concert lawn takes on a new meaning. Come be part of the magic as we transform the residential historic district of Summerville into a fun, art-filled space! Festival map, artist spotlights, lineup schedule and other important information will be placed on our website by mid-March 2024.

Follow for updates on Facebook & Instagram:@SummervillePorchfest

We suggest that you leave your dogs, goats, chickens, rabbits, and kitty cats at home. This is a family-friendly, no-open containers event… but feel free to bring a picnic or experience our great selection of local eateries! Check out our t-shirts & other merch available in our online store (available mid-March 2024) or purchase on the day of the event, so you can remember the day and support future Porchfests too!

The FAQ’s page is the best place to learn how to Porchfest like a pro.

Purpose & Proceeds

History of Porchfest

Originally conceived in Ithaca, NY in 2007, two neighbors had an idea: What if we had an afternoon when porches all over the neighborhood became stages and everyone just meandered from yard to yard, listening, hanging out, and connecting/reconnecting with their neighbors? Porchfest - the ultimate grassroots music festival - was born. It’s a family-friendly, free event that brings communities together to celebrate music and creativity. PorchFest is a nationwide phenomenon and there are currently more than 180 Porchfests in the US! The more folks who take ownership of it, the better it will showcase the best of what Summerville can be. You can do this as a porch host (make sure your porch is within the festival boundaries), or as a performer (anyone’s welcome, wherever you hail from), or as a volunteer to help out, or simply as a neighbor or visitor wandering about and enjoying the fun! Plan your day at Porchfest here or get more information in our FAQ, then spread the word using #SummervillePorchfest and let us know how you’d like to participate.

Schedule

Map

and

Summerville Historic District is a beautiful neighborhood in west-central Augusta, full of historic architecture, and encompasses the Summerville Campus of Augusta University.

Our event is spread across the heart of the neighborhood, bordered by Walton Way/ Milledge Rd./ Central Ave./ Monte Sano Ave./ McDowell Rd./ Johns Rd./ and wrapping back up towards Walton Way.

Check out the “Travel & Accessibility” section of our FAQ’s,

to learn about safe & convenient ways to experience Summerville Porchfest.

Click here for the interactive map:

Bit.ly/2024Porchfest

Follow for updates on Facebook & Instagram: @SummervillePorchfest

Sponsors

thanks to our

Porchfests around the country are made possible thanks to the generosity of sponsors who pledge funds, goods, and services to cover operational costs and make this annual celebration of community, neighborhood, and music a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Because Summerville Porchfest is free and open to the public, all funds collected for the event are collected through sponsorship. This event is 100% volunteer run - from the Organizers to the Musicians and Porch Hosts. Please review the “What is Porchfest” page for information on Summerville Porchfest’s purpose & proceeds.

Want to be a part of our sponsors for Summerville Porchfest?

We’re looking for community companies who are interested in giving back to the

CSRA through access to family-friendly music events and arts education, or being a part of the magic by assisting with the day of logistics and in-kind needs. We have multiple options to suit any budget - and we’re open to suggestions too!

Volunteer

I’d like to

Porchfests around the country are made possible thanks to the generosity of volunteers who show up to make this annual celebration of community, neighborhood, and music a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Want to be a part of our crew for the 2024 Summerville Porchfest?

We’re looking for friendly faces who are interested in being a part of the magic by assisting with the day of logistics.

Available positions include block monitors, merch sales, light setup, light breakdown, emcee, and photography!

Porch!

i have a

The inaugural Summerville Porchfest will be held on

Sunday, April 28th from 12:30p-5p, and sets begin from 1pm to 4pm.

Are you passionate about community hospitality and sharing the beautiful surroundings of the Summerville Historic District? Want to be part of the magic?

We’re seeking neighbors who are interested in hosting a musician or band, who’ll play a 1-hour set of their music on your porch, in your driveway, or in your yard (but anything residential in character which allows for a street-facing performance will do)!

Attendees watch the performance from your property, but nobody comes inside your home.

Open call for Porch Hosts is October 1st – March 1st for the 2024 Porchfest.

Here’s the Process to Sign Up

o Confirm that you live within the 2024 event area, within the zone formed by Walton Way/ Milledge Rd/

Central Ave/ Monte Sano/ McDowell Rd, and the border of the AU Summerville campus that wraps

along Johns Rd back towards Walton Way. Scroll to the Map & Schedule page for a visual.

o Clear your schedule on April 28th between 11:30a-6p (read why below). The event is rain or shine, and

is only cancelled for extreme or unsafe weather.

o Fill out this Porch Host Interest form by March 1st, 2024. You will know we’ve received your form if you

get a response from us by email within 24 hours.

o If you have a performer who’s already agreed to play on your porch, just note the requested pairing

(they’ll still need to fill out the Musician Interest form). Otherwise, you’ll be assigned to host a

performer for 1 hour-long set, leaving you time to wander Porchfest, celebrate, & visit your community

Porch Host Requirements

o Serve as Porchfest ambassador, and get the word out to family, friends, and everyone you know!

o Come together to support music with the spirit of generosity, hospitality, and goodwill. Be willing to donate use of your designated performance & viewing space, and to provide access to power for the musician’s equipment (whether that’s via extension cords provided by the band, or directly into an outlet). 2 outlets on separate circuits usually gives ample coverage.

o We will pair porches and performers based on event flow. The more porches we have signed up on a block, the more likely they will be included in the event, so get your neighbors signed up, too! You will receive confirmation of participation by mid-March at the latest. Once you receive your pairing email from us, you’ll need to contact your performer immediately to begin coordinating your PorchFest day together.

o It is the responsibility of the Porch Host to ensure you’re being neighborly and respectful by informing neighbors of your intent to host a performance. Musicians are playing on your own private property and not public streets or sidewalks, and noise ordinances will be followed.

o Depending on the schedule of performances, you or your representative will need to remain onsite between the hours of 11a-6p. The bands will need no more than 1 hour to set up and 1 hour to break down, in addition to their performance. You or your representative only must be on-site while the band is there - and remain responsible for happenings on your own property such as assisting if necessary, ensuring appropriate volumes, and keeping the performance to its assigned end time.

o Ask attendees to stay on Porch Host property, which keeps the sidewalks clear and safe for pedestrians and the streets clear for traffic. If you see a problem, solve a problem - in your yard or on the street. If it’s too big, get assistance from your block captains, call us, or don’t hesitate to call the RCSO if you feel that’s the right move.

o If space allows, select an area for us to set up the following provided items: a table for Porchfest + the band to sell their merchandise, 1 community nonprofit or local craft vendor’s booth, and 1 refreshments table (nonalcoholic). Any vendors are responsible for their own licensing, sales tax, etc, & sign a waiver of liability.

o Allow us to put out a trashcan & recycling bin for attendees to use, and we’ll collect the trash at the end. We’ll make sure that your property is left in its original condition – including putting any rearranged porch furniture back where it belongs, etc.

o The week before PorchFest, one of our organizers will place a yard sign with performance information in front of your house. When the event is over, just leave the sign in your yard and someone will remove it the day after PorchFest.

o Optional, but fun – Porch decorating contest! Feel free to decorate your space with a theme, decorations, plants, art installations, etc. Porches will be judged the Planning Committee on Saturday afternoon before PorchFest 2024 so we can place the award sign in the winner’s yards the morning before the event! With the sweet taste of victory comes bragging rights and the most absurd trophy that we can create. Let us know on the application if you would like to participate in our decorating contest!

o For your kindness and participation, you’ll be gifted with an official festival merch piece or other small token of our gratitude, and invited to post-Porchfest drinks & dinner at 6:30pm for the host homes and band members. This appreciation dinner will be informal and buffet style; menu TBD & details to follow.

o Balancing all the competing priorities of our schedule is basically nuts, so we trust you'll understand that we're unable to accommodate special requests *aside from you asking to pair your porch with a friend’s specific musical act.*

...Want to Be Part of the Magic?

Perform!

i’d like to

Porchfest isn’t quite like other music festivals. We don’t need a press kit, we don’t need to hear from your agent. We welcome all kinds of music at Porchfest, as long as you sign up and agree to our rules about volume and other considerations. Please peruse the internet for examples of other Porchfests (including regional neighbors like Athens, Oakhurst/Decatur, Hampton-Pinckney, and Virginia Highlands). Summerville Porchfest is completely volunteer-run and the musicians are not paid, though we actively encourage tipping via several methods. Musicians or other types of performances are welcome, solo or ensemble, acoustic or amplified, as long as it is kept to one hour in a freely given performance at a compatible volume suited to your porch host’s location. All you need is our availability of a porch to play on, and to sign up before the deadline.If you would like to be considered for performing at Porchfest, please contact us via the form below by March 1st, 2024. Sets are assigned based on the number of Host Porches available, so get your application in early!

Porchfest is primarily a local/neighborhood music festival, and the majority of performers are from the Augusta area and playing on their own porch or a friend’s. It’s intended to be a showcase of our amazing creative community, not a tour stop for bands from other cities / states. There are plenty of other festivals that do that (and do it well). If you know someone who lives in the Summerville Porchfest area, you can certainly ask them if you can play on their porch. Otherwise, selected performers will be assigned a one hour time slot and paired with a Porch Host location. This leaves you time to enjoy the rest of the festival or join another band on another porch!

Please do not just show up and play, without signing up first. An immense amount of work goes into arranging the schedule so there aren’t bands playing too closely to each other. Very frequently, bands that just set up and play without being scheduled wind up drowning out someone else nearby. If you have questions, let us know!

Here’s the Process to Sign Up

o Clear your schedule on April 28th between 11:30a-6p (read why below). The event is rain or shine, and is only cancelled for extreme or unsafe weather.

o Fill out this Musician Interest form by March 1st, 2024. You’ll know we’ve received your form if you get a response from us by email within 24 hours.

o If you have a Porch Host who’s already agreed to have you play on their porch, just note the requested pairing (they’ll still need to fill out the Porch Host Interest form). Otherwise, you’ll be assigned to a Host Porch for 1 hour-long set, leaving you some time to wander Porchfest, mingle, and celebrate music & community.

Musician Requirements

o Serve as Porchfest ambassador, and get the word out to family, friends, and everyone you know!

o Come together to support music with the spirit of generosity, hospitality, and goodwill. Be willing to donate your performance and to use your own equipment (including extension cords if power is needed). Usually a Host Porch will provide 2 outlets on separate circuits. Bring whatever gear you need for your performance; PAs, sound, cords, or other equipment will not be provided for you at this event.

o Attendees will begin arriving in the Porchfest zone around 12:30pm, and performances will begin hourly from 1pm to 4pm. The event ends at 5pm, hard-stop. You must arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before your set to allow for load-in and set up for your performance.

o We will pair porches and performers based on event flow. The more porches we have signed up on a block, the more likely bands will be included in the event… so ask your neighbors to get signed up, too!You will receive confirmation of participation by the end of February at the latest. Once you receive your pairing email from us, you’ll need to contact your Porch Host immediately to begin coordinating your PorchFest day together. Coordinate with your Porch Host about all of the logistics of your performance, e.g. space requirements, electricity needs, etc. If there’s a need for reassignment based on logistics, please let us know ASAP!

o If you see a problem, solve a problem - in your Porch Host’s yard or on the street.If it’s too big, get assistance from your block captains, call us, or don’t hesitate to call the RCSO if you feel that’s the right move.

o Musicians are playing on private property and not public streets or sidewalks, and noise ordinances will be followed. Daytime noise levels must not be distinguishable more than 300ft from the edge of your Porch Host’s property line, and amplification must not be to the nuisance level of the neighbors or other performances. We will all work together to ensure that your sound is the best quality for promoting your band, while staying within legal operation. Play at a sound level respectful to the neighbors and/or other performers nearby. Use common sense about your volume and audience and adjust it accordingly, as your sound should only fill the space between the house and the curb at your given location.

o Perform only during your assigned time slot, including sound check. Musical acts will get no more than 1 hour to set up and 1 hour to break down, in addition to your performance. The Porch Host or their representative must be on-site while the band is there - and remain responsible for happenings on their own property such as assisting if necessary, ensuring appropriate volumes, and keeping the performance to its assigned end time.

o You must offer a family-friendly/PG-max performance. Seriously, if you can't recognize what's appropriate when you're being hosted in someone's home and there's likely kids running around, this isn't your kinda gig. If your performance draws complaints then it’ll be immediately cancelled.

o Don’t forget to tell Attendees your band name during your performance, and thank your Porch Host for their generous property use!

o We’ll provide the use of half of a banquet table if you’d like to set up any merchandise to sell (albums, stickers, shirts, CD, digital downloads QR, etc) as well as a Volunteer to run your merch sales. We are not responsible for missed sales, theft, cash discrepancies, etc, and you’re welcome to provide your own merch attendant! Just let us know on your Musician Interest form.

o Send us a QR Code or link for your PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or Google Pay account so we can add a “Virtual Tip Jar” link for your performance on our website. We will include it on signage in front of your selected porch. We’ll also provide a physical tip jar for your exclusive use during your set! Our audiences appreciate a great performance and will hopefully reward that with cash donations. You are responsible for reporting any tips received and the tax implications of such; we don’t meddle or take responsibility for that.

o For your kindness and participation you’ll each be gifted a piece of Porchfest merch as a token of our appreciation, and invited to post-Porchfest drinks & dinner at 6:30pm for the host homes and band members. This dinner will be something informal and buffet style; menu TBD and details to follow.

o Balancing all the competing priorities of our schedule is basically nuts, so we trust you'll understand that we're unable to accommodate special requests *aside from you asking to pair your performance with a friend’s specific porch*

...Want to Be Part of the Magic?

FAQ’s

here are some

Did I say some? Sorry, I meant a TON.

If you can’t find the answer here, then just reach out

using the email address at the bottom of the FAQ’s.

The Who, What, When, Where, & Why

What is this?

• Porchfest is where front porches become stages, yards become venues, and radical generosity and goodwill rule the day! It’s a grassroots-led, open-to-all celebration of music and community spread across a central portion of the Summerville Historic District in Augusta, Georgia.

When's it happening?

• Everything goes down Sunday, April 28th, 2024 from 12:30pm to 5pm, with performances beginning between 1pm to 4pm.

How much does it all cost me?

• For you? Nothing. No ticket required. The event is open to all and totally free! We are just the latest city to follow in the footsteps of Ithaca, NY, where this type of festival was created with goodwill in mind. Imagine an event where no one got paid, no one paid, and yet everyone benefitted? Introducing… Summerville Porchfest. Our performers and porches were all given freely with one thing in mind – hospitality and community. This event's mission is to raise as much money for the future of the arts in Richmond County, so please make sure to show your support of this free event by tipping, purchasing merch, or shopping in our Makers Market. Beverages. food, and merchandise will require payment. Most vendors accept cash, debit/credit, Venmo, & PayPal. Additionally, please feel free to tip those who make you move your feet and get up off your seat (or grassy spot)!

Who should come?

• Everyone!Summerville Porchfest is family-friendly and open to all, with all kinds of music to suit all kinds of tastes.

Where does it take place?

• Summerville Historic District is a beautiful neighborhood in west-central Augusta, full of historic architecture, and encompasses the Summerville Campus of Augusta University. Our event is spread across the heart of the neighborhood, bordered by Walton Way/ Milledge Rd./ Central Ave./ Monte Sano Ave./ McDowell Rd./ Johns Rd./ and wrapping back up towards Walton Way.

Is there a map or some kind of schedule?

• Yes. An interactive map and schedule will be available in a variety of formats — by QR code on signs at Porchfest, online early-April, and downloadable print-at-home.

How does it work?

• Porchfest is much more an afternoon of coordinated yard performances than it is a conventional festival. There's no real boss, no specific enclosed or protected area, and everything you see, eat, or experience exists only because someone decided to step up and make it happen. All of our day-of operations and oversight gets delegated to our dozens of volunteering neighbors and tons of guests, making every block captain, porch host, performer, vendor and attendee a de facto co-creator and real-time manager of the event. The organizing committee (such that it is) exists only to manage logistics, coordinate performances, and promote the day. Feel free to support Porchfest through its merchandise sales, where all tips help cover the expense of putting this event on!

Do the musicians or planners get paid?

• No one does. Ours is an experiment in radical generosity and goodwill — predicated solely on the act of giving — which applies equally to everyone involved. Organizers, Block Captains, performers, porch hosts, and others all participate as volunteers. They give freely of their time, talents, resources, and hospitality as a gift to the neighborhood and to each other. This year alone will be made possible by the voluntary contributions of over 100 people. We hold no expectations for participation and feel only appreciation for those who join us in the spirit of our ambitions. That said, though, we hope to generate a crowd and to encourage anyone to make use of it. Musicians are free to put out a (digital or old skool) tip jar or sell their music and merch, artists and crafters set up yard-shops with the permission of property owners, and enterprising neighbors and do-good nonprofits can make refreshments available. If it's legal, have at it!
  

How can I support Porchfest and future events?

• Tell your friends! Stop by one of our merch booths on the day of the event and snag your sweet swag. Check (or share) our social media posts! Offer cash or digital tips at any of the porches.

How can I see updates?

• Stay connected using our Facebook & Instagram accounts:@SummervillePorchfest

Is there a hashtag?

• Use #SummervillePorchfest for all your Instagramming and Facebooking needs.Take lots of pictures, and don’t forget to tag us!

Help, I have no idea what I'm doing!​

• Sit back and relax. Catch up with some of your neighbors. Meet new ones. Here are a few suggestions to help you enjoy the day:
• Pack a picnic or visit our amazing food vendors throughout the event
• Fill up your reusable water bottles and bring a lightweight chair or blanket to sit on
• Check out our parking maps in advance - avoid overcrowding the residential streets, and don’t block anyone’s driveway
  
• Bring sunscreen or a hat, whatever is needed for an afternoon outdoors
  
• Afterwards, enjoy dinner/drinks at one of our fine neighborhood establishments listed under the Operational section of the FAQ’s
  

Weather, Personal Safety, Rules of Conduct, & Pets

In Case of Severe Weather

• In theory we're a rain or shine event, but if we all wake up to an unsafe situation or weather so miserable that it's just not worth it then we'll post a cancellation announcement on our website, Facebook, & Instagram accounts (so make sure to click Follow!) Due to the complexity of rescheduling so many participants, there is no rain date – we’ll just try again next year.
  

COVID Protocols

• The Summerville Porchfest is an event characterized by radical generosity. That means exercising as much concern for others as you do for yourself and being considerate if public health factors require it. This is an outdoor-only event spread across several blocks in a neighborhood, with plenty of room to spread out, so take whatever cautions are appropriate for you and your family at the time of the event… but if you’re feeling sick or even iffy then please stay home.
  

For attendees, all normal rules of law & order apply, and everyone remains responsible for their own behavior, safety, and welfare when moving from yard to yard. Wander around and watch out for others. Pretty simple. However, we have a few rules to help everyone enjoy themselves and maintain a safe environment for all:

• Pack it in, pack it out: please only leave footprints and take only pictures
  
• Be courteous and radiate positivity. Let's wear our best humanity that day.
  
• Remember that the porches and surrounding areas are actual homes: be respectful of our neighbors.
  
• Follow all laws and local ordinances.
  
• No open consumption of alcohol is permitted. Open container laws are enforceable by RCSO.
  
• Don’t block driveways, and don’t double-park vehicles.
  
• 10x10 shade tents and other large structures are not permitted unless placed by Porchfest for its use. If you use a single rain umbrella for shade, please be considerate of others’ view and stand towards the back of the viewing area.
  

Pet Policy

• While you can bring your WELL-BEHAVED dog who must remain on a leash, we don't recommend it…. Augusta’s rules for pets — including leash laws, owner liability, and the requirement to scoop the poop — are the same as they'd be on any public street at any other time. But that said, all of Porchfest's entertainment is on porches and different homeowners may have different preferences as it relates to pets on their property. So just be aware of and sensitive to that, and the possibility that not everyone is comfortable around animals, and everyone should get along fine. It’s our personal recommendation that you leave your furry or feathered counterparts at home. It can be overwhelming for animals to be in a space with so many unknown faces, in new yards to sniff, with amplified music, unknown food sources, and the potential for hot weather. Even the friendliest animal can react in an unexpected manner due to stress. We don’t want a dog bite or fight to ruin everyone’s day (AND your wallet!)
  

What to Bring & Not to Bring

What to Bring

• Only what you’ll need for a light-duty afternoon outside. Sunscreen, an umbrella or rain jacket in case we get sprinkles or to block the sun, folding camp chairs or a blanket if you plan on sitting down for a while, your reusable water bottle, and if spanning the 'hood or catching the most performers possible is your goal then a bike's a great way to get around. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. If you’re packing a picnic then feel free to bring a personal-sized cooler and don’t forget a bag to stash your trash. Oh, and pro tip:bring cash to shop or tip, if you don’t want to use digital payment methods!
  

What should I leave at home?

• Weapons of any type, open containers of alcohol, or pop-up shade tents are not allowed at Summerville Porchfest.

Operational: Food, Drinks, Bathrooms, Etc.

Food and Drink

• Porchfest has no prohibitions on outside food so feel free to tote-your-own, including in personal/backpack-sized coolers. Further options for getting takeaway items include a number of fine neighborhood businesses in no particular order — Sheehan’s Irish Pub, Beck’s, Sweet Azalea Gourmet Shop & Catering, Arsenal Tap Room, Subway, Relic Coffee & Bakery, etc. We will provide trash & recycling bins for attendee use… Just remember that all of our “venues” are someone’s yard so be sure to clean up after yourself, and we recommend bringing a Ziploc bag to stash your trash from blowing around.
  

Alcoholic Beverages

• Important: Porchfest is not a festival in the conventional sense and does not have a contained and managed festival area. That means there are no alcohol sales. Event performances generally take place on private property but by default are linked by public streets and spaces in between, so be advised: When in public, you're liable for your own behavior and subject to all existing ordinances regarding open containers, alcohol consumption, and public disruption. So be cool.
  

Restrooms

• Our goal is for our visitors to always be within three blocks of a restroom. We’ll try to accomplish this by engaging participating churches, and by attendees patronizing neighborhood restaurants, beverage companies, and gas stations who have restrooms available for paying patrons. Check our event program or online map for specific locations. And please take note: Porch hosts and retail shops are not expected to provide restrooms, so please don't ask.
  

Participation: Porch Hosts, Musicians, Volunteers, & Sponsors

When can I sign up?

• Click on the appropriate Musicians, Porch Hosts, Volunteers, or Sponsors tab. Each have specific timeframes, but Porch Host & Musician registrations are generally accepted through early-March.
  

Do I need to live in Summerville to perform?

• No! We welcome performers from all over the CSRA, and will match you to a host in our Porchfest area.​
  

What if I want to perform on a specific porch/want a specific performer on my porch?

• There will be a place on your signup form to indicate if you have any preferences for where you perform or who will perform on your porch.​ Both the Musician and the Porch Host must register.
  

Do I need to send in footage to be considered to perform at Porchfest?

• It’s not a requirement, but we’re just curious and excited so we’d love to hear you… Youtube clip, cell phone video, or even an audio recording would be awesome.Everyone who signs up for Summerville Porchfest will have a chance to perform, as long as we have Porch Hosts available. In the event that we have limiting homes volunteer their space then we’ll have to make heart wrenching decisions to the best of our ability to encourage musical diversity & craft.​
  

Why can’t I choose my time to host or perform?

• Scheduling performances across the neighborhood in balanced time slots, making sure any crowds disperse at predictable intervals, and preventing conflicts with other performers nearby requires a lot of logistical calisthenics. Instead, we ask that all participants simply clear their calendars for the duration and submit themselves to the benevolent forces of the greater good.
  

Why just one, one-hour performance per porch?

• Beyond the need to flexibly accommodate multiple porches in any given area, it's because Porchfest is as much a community-building endeavor as it is a celebration of music. People constantly on the move, experiencing new facets of the neighborhood, is what it's all about. When people camp out all day at any one address it works against the underlying point of the event. We aim to be a shifting, ever-evolving carnival of interactions and experiences… not a set of day-long yard parties. #RoamTheHood
  

Travel & Accessibility

Getting Here

• Summerville is a beautiful neighborhood in west-central Augusta, and encompasses the Summerville Campus of Augusta University. Our event is spread across the heart of the neighborhood, bordered by Walton Way/ Milledge Rd./ Central Ave./ Monte Sano Ave./ McDowell Rd./ Johns Rd./ and wrapping back up towards Walton Way (just map it). We're easy to find but know this: While you're welcome to drive, it's a bad idea to venture within the boundaries of the Porchfest area with your vehicle (just like during the Summerville Neighborhood Association’s Tour of Homes weekend). This also keeps the Porchfest roads clearer for parking for those with disabilities, residents getting home, musicians loading their equipment, and for pedestrian safety. We make no apologies: If you don't have to drive, it's absolutely better not to! Rather than driving, consider walking, biking, or ridesharing.
  

Will you be closing streets?

• No. For a variety of reasons, Porchfest does not close streets or maintain any sort of contained and controlled environment. Access is open and unrestricted for everyone throughout the event and all those using streets and sidewalks remain responsible for their own welfare, actions, and impacts on others, just as they would at any other time. Instead, we're committed to the sharing of public space and to everyone making the effort to accommodate one another. For drivers, this means slowing down dramatically and expecting to find pedestrians, bikes, and families utilizing the street. And for those enjoying the festival, it means remaining vigilant, exercising caution, and recognizing that sometimes people in cars just need to get somewhere. So relax, get out of the way when appropriate (especially in the case of emergency vehicles), and make it work… It's the neighborly thing to do. For more information about why we're organized this way, or about how it aids in emergency response, check our traffic and safety statement.
  

Is Porchfest accessible for those with disabilities?

• It is. We prioritize the safety of walking and rolling (including wheelchairs) over that of motor vehicles in most areas of the event. Summerville has a fairly solid network of accessible sidewalks and curb ramps to get you through and around the neighborhood, as well as streets that are wider-than-most. Beyond that, we do everything we can to discourage attendees driving within the event boundaries. In addition to reducing traffic around families and more vulnerable visitors, this also ensures that those who absolutely do have to drive (such as those with disabilities, and musicians loading their equipment) can find adequate parking in close proximity to where things are happening.
  

Is PorchFest walkable & bikable?

• Yes - Summerville is very walkable! You can walk, ride bikes or scooters, and push strollers as you move from porch to porch. For your own safety and the good of the event, please use sidewalks when moving from house to house, and enjoy music on lawns and walkways at each location. Participants are not allowed to block the sidewalks or stand in the street at participating locations. We make no assumptions about the stroller-a-bility or use of wheelchairs in individual yards, but if you reach out via email then we’ll do our best to answer your questions. Many areas of central and western Augusta are within a healthy walk of Summerville, including the Forest Hills, National/Sand Hills, Peachtree-to-Glenn, Harrisburg, Daniel Village, and Pendleton King areas.
  

Ridesharing

• For Uber or Lyft, skip the madness of our performance streets and get dropped off or picked up along the neighborhood's outer edge. Need an address for the app? Consider the the Appleby Library Branch at 2260 Walton Way on our north side, or the old fire station at 2163 Central Ave on our south side.
  
• Still Planning to Drive?
  
• Porchfest and cars don't mix well… Driving in or around Porchfest will clog the thoroughfare for residents, musicians loading their equipment, and attendees with a medical need to park closer. If you're still stubborn, be sure to at least familiarize yourself with where to go, where to park, and what to expect in advance so you don't end up frustrated. Or worse, hurting someone. Get everything you need to know by downloading our Parking + Travel guide.
  

Reach Out

I've still got questions.

• Sorry about that! Email us at SummervillePorchfest(at)gmail. com or Sara(at)Vivid-Event.com and we will get back to you asap with an answer. If you have an immediate need, please text 706.2nine6.70six6
  
• You can also reach us through DM on Instagram & Facebook, at @SummervillePorchfest . We will answer all contact formats as quickly as we’re able to!
  

Who organizes this?

• Summerville Porchfest is brought to you by the Porchfest Organizing crew, logistics are supported by Vivid Events along with countless musicians and Summerville neighbors, with the added assistance of businesses in the community. Please check out our Sponsor page for their contribution & contact information.
  
• Summerville Porchfest is not associated with or produced by the Summerville Neighborhood Association. We support their wonderful efforts of community events and architectural preservation in Summerville. For more information or to donate to their missions and organization, please visit www.SummervilleAugusta.com