Bowling Green’s annual hours-long front porch music festival, Porchfest, returns for its fifth year on Saturday, May 31.
The city’s first Porchfest took place in 2021 on the porches of just three houses on Eberly Avenue, according to BG Porchfest’s website. Now, nearly 20 bands will perform at various times from 1:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. this year.
Porchfest President Brian Young said the event is about more than just supporting the bands who are performing.
“It’s about camaraderie and enjoying music that you enjoy for free and a place to make new friends,” said Young.
Hosting a Porchfest is not unique only to Bowling Green. In fact, the festival originated in New York in 2007 and now includes more than 200 Porchfests across the United States, according to Porchfest’s website.
Young said he believes there’s a specific reason dozens of people gather in the streets of BG year after year and bands from across the country continue to perform.
“We bring a free event to the public with no intention of profit for ourselves. It’s all volunteer-run and intended as a neighborhood and community gathering to facilitate social interaction and fellowship,” said Young.
New this year are additional bands, food, merchandise and even longer performance times. Young said Porchfest implemented feedback from a recent survey that indicated attendees wanted to hear the bands perform a longer set.
Likewise, something Young said he wants to see more of in the future is getting more porches involved for more bands to participate. By having a certain quantity of porches, it limits the number of bands that can perform.
“I’d like to thank our hard-working committee and give a big thank you to our sponsors, porch hosts, the volunteers on game day, and of course, the bands and musical artists that show up and play for us. Also, I’d like to thank BG Falcon Media for being our media partner this year,” said Young.
He also said one of the most important things to emphasize is to tip the bands that are performing to show your support.
Lastly, Young said he recognizes some of the disruptions the event may cause, but he’s appreciative of everyone’s involvement.
“I’d also like to thank our neighbors. It’s very busy for about five hours and we realize it might cause some temporary inconvenience, but the neighbors have been very supportive, and we really appreciated that as well,” said Young.
For more information about BG Porchfest or to see a schedule of performers, visit their website.
