If you haven’t already blocked your calendar for May 18, do it now. Porchfest is returning and it’s shaping up to be the biggest year yet for the West Chester Green Team-sponsored music festival that pairs local musicians with neighborhood porches.

This year the concert footprint is expanding to include Price Street. The new boundaries will run south from Price Street to Miner and east from Bradford Ave. to  Church Street. Organizers also hope to expand the number of blocks closed to traffic from seven to ten. While they are still waiting on the final ok from the Borough, they requested the addition of the 200, 300, and 400 blocks of Barnard to a closure list that already includes the 200 through 600 blocks of Union Street and the 200 through 400 blocks of Dean Street.

So does this volunteer-executed, neighbor-organized event have what it takes to fill that much space with free music? They do and then some. As of Monday’s submission deadline, a record number of musicians had signed up.  

“Yes, 103 bands. Amazing,” shared Porchfest co-organizer Molly Hanford in an email. For reference, last year’s festival hosted 70 bands (which was up from 53 performances in year one). Band sign-ups are now closed but porches are still needed.

“Host sign-ups are OPEN!” says Molly.

If you are interested in participating (it’s a lot of fun), sign up here. In addition to bands, the West Chester Green Team is planning a variety of kids’ activities, a vintage clothing swap,  plant giveaways (this is the Green Team remember), food trucks, and more.  You can find more details on all that is planned here.  

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Originally published on Apr. 5, 2024

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