The original Porchfest started in Ithaca, New York, in 2007 as a way to celebrate the community. Over the years, the movement has made its way to D.C. and this fall, both Adams Morgan PorchFest and Porchfest DC Southeast Edition will hold their own musical celebrations. Although the events take place in different neighborhoods with different vendors and performances, their core missions are the same: Celebrate local musical talent and connect neighbors “porch by porch.” But these events also work as a way to invite others into the community—neither Porchfests are exclusive to their respective neighborhoods. “When people think of Southeast, they think of one thing, be it type of people, type of music, type of business,” Simona Wright-James, the co-executive director of Porchfest DC Southeast Edition, tells City Paper. “There’s a lot of expansion happening in D.C. and in Southeast that I think folks are not able to necessarily catch a breath and learn, experience, and laugh.” What better way to truly take in a community than a PorchFest? Porchfest DC Southeast Edition takes place on Sept. 25 throughout Southeast; Adams Morgan PorchFest takes place on Oct. 1 throughout the Northwest neighborhood. Both are free.
For more music recommendations, check out our calendar.