'A big block party': College Hill PorchFest returns to Easton for largest event yet

EASTON, Pa. — PorchFest will return to Easton this weekend, with a supersized selection of performers playing across dozens of College Hill spaces.

The sixth annual College Hill PorchFest, which starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, is set to feature about 70 acts spread over 35 public and private porches in the neighborhood.

It will be the largest iteration of the event to date.

Stretching from the Nevin Park Fountain to Clinton Terrace and Cattell Street, the event is being promoted as an innovative way to bring neighbors, friends and families together to enjoy the sounds of local musicians and foster a strong sense of community.

The weather forecast is for a warm and partly sunny Sept. 29, ideal for strolling through College Hill and catching a diverse array of catchy tunes.

But just in case, the rain date is Oct. 6.

Volunteer committee member Meg Green said this year’s PorchFest promises to highlight some of the very best elements of the community with a wide array of performers.

“It's such a diverse mix of music," Green said. "It's just such a beautiful day.

"The community all comes out, you can wander around and see all different types of music, you see your neighbors out and about."

'Basically an open invitation'

‘Fest patrons are encouraged to stroll from porch to porch with blankets and/or folding chairs to catch an incredibly diverse lineup of performances every hour on the hour from 1 to 4 p.m.

It will wrap up at 5 p.m. with the New-Orleans-style Second Line Parade featuring the Big Easy Easton Brass band starting at the College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St.

Green said she is particularly interested in catching the Big Easy Easton Brass band as it brings together the magic of the music and the sense of camaraderie across the neighborhood.

“They're modeled after the second line parades of New Orleans, so anybody can jump in the line," Green said.

"So they've got the musicians who are in the band, but you can just jump in after them and march along; you can join the parade.

"It's basically an open invitation to jump in and join the parade, which is good fun,” Green said.

Acts at this year’s ‘fest include the trippy tunes and spoken word performances of EDG; the catchy indie-alt-pop sensibilities of Blue Jean; the genre-bending virtual jukebox-with-a-touch-of-yodeling that is Friends of Tom; the bridge between contemporary and traditional accordion songs of Jeanne Velonis; and others.

For an inside look at some of the highlighted performers for this year’s event, go to the College Hill PorchFest Facebook page for biographies and links to the artists’ works.

It also features a lineup of porches, performers and maps to navigate the event.

New this year will be Lafayette College’s Williams Center for the Arts, which will hold performances on its “porch.” There also will be shows by Easton Arts Academy Elementary Charter School.

'Almost like a big block party'

Additional family-friendly elements of the day will include Touch-a-Truck with the City of Easton vehicles and Easton EMS; and the Fire Truck Display and interactive music performances for the kids with Easton Fire Department at College Hill Station No. 3.

Also, sidewalk chalk art and a free play area, Bob Swaim “The Bike Guy” demonstrating rare and unusual bikes, and the Nurture Nature Center hosting a take-away science activity.

This year’s participating groups will include College Hill Presbyterian and Cornerstone Community churches, Boy Scout Troop No. 3, ProJeCt of Easton and The Village on College Hill.

Also present will be the College Hill Neighborhood Association, the Karl Stirner Arts Train and Artful Dash 5K, Easton High School Musical Theatre Boosters and LaFarm Stand.

Other participants include, Lafayette College Refugee Action, Easton Book Festival, Easton Historical House Tour, the New PA Project and Nurture Nature Center.

The event evokes a strong sense of unity in the community, with volunteers going out of their way to help organize and orchestrate the event, Green said.

“Some of the hosts will put out beverages and snacks for people, and it's almost like a big block party, where everyone's welcome,” Green said.

And while PorchFest remains a free event, Green said she welcomes patrons to contribute donations to cover the costs of signage, shirts for volunteers and other materials.

PorchFest was founded in Ithaca, New York, in 2007 and has since grown to be a nationwide community building activity.

So far, 170 walker-friendly neighborhoods have launched PorchFests to celebrate music in the community.