‘Feeling Good’ in the neighborhood

Virginia Highland Porchfest is a group-effort project, conceptualized and operated by the volunteers and board directors of Virginia Highland District Association (VHDA), of the northeast intown neighborhood, Virginia Highland. VHDA is a business association founded by resident stakeholders and dedicated to the prosperity of the small business corridor of North Highland Avenue, from Ponce de Leon Ave to Morningside.

Large events like Porchfest present a rare, effective fundraising opportunity for neighborhood nonprofits. By attracting community-orientated sponsors, selling tickets to sub-events, and having a portion of the concession sales go to the organization, the entire event is planned and oriented toward fueling VHDA’s mission. The association creates a liaison between neighborhood stakeholders and city professionals to “support small businesses in Virginia Highland through economic development, public realm investment, and community engagement.”

In 2020, VHDA Board Director and child therapist, Christina Carrick, took VHDA’s community engagement mission and linked it to the concept of Porchfest. She had visited the Oakhurst Porchfest in Fall for many years and, after some research, gave the organizer, Scott Doyon, a call. Since then, the VHDA board and Porchfest team have learned and grown. It takes a little over six months to plan and, this year, over 20 people have dedicated many hours to plan the event. This year’s record-breaking lineup of bands and porches has been a newly expanded undertaking for the team.

VHDA sends a huge “Thank you!” to Porchfest attendees for supporting your local community events, musicians, artists, and associations.

Volunteer at Porchfest

Porchfest relies upon the support of community members to operate this melodious event. Volunteers help set up and break down, check-in, and cheer on Rock n Run participants, monitor streets for safety and wayfinding, make sure kids have a blast at Kids Corner, answer questions at the info booth, and help ensure everyone has a rockin’ fun time. A complimentary Porchfest T-shirt is provided to volunteers upon arrival at their shift. Volunteers attend a 1-hr informational meeting the week before the event to learn about the event. Sign up to volunteer by May 10.

Logistics and safety

Porchfest music is viewable from the sidewalks only; please be respectful of local residences. Limited parking is available, VHDA encourages festival goers to walk, bike, and rideshare. The event will have three strips of portable restrooms, along with a firstaid station on Barnett Ave near John Howell Park. To pair with the in-festival provisions, VHDA encourages festival-goers to check out food, drink, and shopping offerings from local businesses along North Highland Avenue.