Presenting Oakhurst Porchfest: Decatur’s First Crowdsourced Festival
Decatur Metro | August 13, 2015 | 9:00 am
So how’s this sound to everyone? An Oakhurst grassroots community music festival where front porches become stages, yards become venues, and everyone’s reminded how much fun can be had in the neighborhood.
Hopefully good, because it’s happening!
Oakhurst Porchfest, a joint project coordinated by a handful of Oakhurst neighbors, the Decatur Arts Alliance, and us here at Decatur Metro, aims to be the city’s first, fully crowdsourced festival. On the afternoon of Sunday, October 18, from 2 to 6pm, musicians of all kinds will grace porches throughout the neighborhood while folks on foot or on bikes wander about, listen, hang out on lawns and sidewalks, and mingle with the neighbors.
Now most of us are used to having great festivals put on for us rather than by us. However, this one, based on an event born in Ithaca, NY, eight years ago, is gearing up to be a for-neighbors-by-neighbors, crowdsourced sort of affair.
Lots of sign-ups (both musicians and porch hosts) will equal a spectacle. Limited sign-ups will equal a novelty. So let’s get the word out there and make it BIG — so we can do it again next year!
Are you in? If so, here’s what you do.
If you live in Oakhurst, sign up as a porch (or stoop or lawn or driveway) host; if you’re a musician (from anywhere at all), sign up to play. If you want to help make it happen, sign up to volunteer. Or if you like Oakhurst and music and a generally funky good time, just show up with a few friends and family members.
It’s that easy.
So what do you say? Over the years, DM readers have demonstrated their commitment to real world community building. We helped organize an Adult Prom, saved and rehabilitated an owl, crowd-sourced a bike rack, helped auction off a $2,000 beer for charity, and continue to help reunite many lost animals with their owners. Now let’s see what we can do when it comes to festivals.
Spread the word — to Oakhurst neighbors and to musicians far and wide! Everything you need to know can be found at the Oakhurst Porchfest website.
Photo of Westhaven, TN, Porchfest courtesy of Ray Porch.
brilliant idea
first dibs on Public Enemy
thrilled my friend Adron, whom i’ve described, musically, as the lovechild of Jobim and Joni Mitchell, will be gracing our front porch. looking forward to sharing her beautiful music with our neighbors and friends
nice. i’ve seen her a few times at ATL Collective shows, great voice. will try to hit up your porch.
Awesome – she’s fantastic
I do believe that fellah on the drums plays in the church band at All Souls.
like
Great idea! Until then we are happy to continue to put on a festival FOR everyone – 39 hours and counting for advance ticket sales – save $ 10 per ticket by purchasing now until midnight tomorrow.
https://www.freshtix.com/events/decatur-bbq-blues–bluegrass-festival
This sounds like a perfectly charming idea. Way to go, Oakhurst, DM and the Arts Alliance.
Maybe Hootie should be your mascot.
. . . and thanks to Scott Doyon: the pater familia of this brainchild.
I’ve been to one of these in another city. Can be a very fun event.
Fantastic idea! Well done. 🙂 Somebody alert the Oakhurst Community Choir, too. 🙂
What a great way to spend the day after Beer Fest!
Love!!!
Awesome idea!
It would be nice if the police would kind of forget about the open container law that day.
Interesting question regarding open containers. What is the law on that in GA? I couldn’t find a state wide law prohibiting open containers in public spaces (obviously this is a different question when it comes to your car). Perhaps Decatur has an ordinance? Even then, would it prohibit open containers on private property (e.g., my porch)?
ETA:
Section 6-22: “It shall be unlawful for any person to drink any alcoholic beverages or any other intoxicating beverage at any public place within the city, or for any person to have in his possession any unsealed or opened container with such intoxicating beverage in it at any public place within the city, except as provided under the terms and conditions of special permits issued by the city commission or as outlined in this section.”
I think that means my porch is all good. Just don’t take it with you when you leave.
Cheers, huzzah and you go girl to everyone who conceived and is executing this. I signed my porch up for it. If anyone knows how to play the songs from Frozen on guitar and banjo, we can do a kid’s stage.