Vidalia Porchfest: Everything You Need to Know

What is this?

Vidalia Porchfest is a grassroots community music and arts spectacle in Vidalia, Georgia, where front porches become stages, yards become venues, and radical generosity and good will rule the day.

How does it work?

Porchfest is much more an afternoon of coordinated yard performances than it is a conventional festival. There's no real boss, no specific enclosed or protected area, and everything you see, eat, or experience exists only because someone decided to step up and make it happen. All of our day-of operations and oversight gets delegated to our many volunteering neighbors and guests, making every Block Captain, porch host, performer, vendor and attendee a de facto co-creator and real-time manager of the event. The organizing committee, such that it is, exists only to manage basic front-end logistics, coordinate performances, and promote the day.

For attendees, all normal rules of law and order apply and, just like any other day, everyone remains responsible for their own behavior and welfare when moving from yard to yard. Wander around, keep yourself safe, and watch out for others. Pretty simple. 

When's it happening?

Everything goes down Saturday, November 18, 2023 from Noon to 6pm, and will likely include a kick-off and a day's end throwdown at The Altama Museum of Art & History.

Where does it take place?

The Historic Jackson Heights neighborhood of Vidalia, Georgia. Venues are located between 3rd and 7th Streets and on Jackson and Durden Streets. Our 2023 event area is shown here.  In the future, we hope to expand to more areas.

How does this work?

It starts with a band or performer finding a neighbor who will host them or a neighbor finding performers to host. Either way, once a match is made hosts simply register your union here and we'll take it from there with an assigned performance time.

Don’t have a match?

That’s okay! Let us know on the sign-up and we’ll hook you up. Hosts can sign up here and performers click here.

Why can’t I choose my time to host or perform?

Scheduling performances across the neighborhood in balanced time slots, making sure crowds disperse at predictable intervals, and preventing sound conflicts with other performers nearby requires a lot of logistical calisthenics. When registrations get bogged down in special requests it becomes exponentially more difficult.

Instead, we ask that all participants simply clear their calendars for the duration and submit themselves to the benevolent forces of the greater good. 

Why just one, one-hour performance per porch?

Beyond the need to flexibly accommodate multiple porches in any given area, it's because Vidalia Porchfest is as much a community-building endeavor as it is a celebration of music and the Arts. People constantly on the move, experiencing new facets of the neighborhood, is what it's all about. When people camp out all day at any one address it works against the underlying point of the event. We aim to be a shifting, ever-evolving carnival of interactions and experiences. Not a collection of distinct, day-long yard parties. #roamthehood

Do the musicians get paid?

No one does so consider tipping! Ours is an experiment in radical generosity and good will — predicated solely on the act of giving — which applies equally to everyone involved. Organizers, Block Captains, performers, porch hosts, and others all participate as volunteers and all give freely of their time, talents, resources, and hospitality as a gift to the neighborhood and to each other. This year alone will be made possible by the voluntary contributions many, many people.

We hold no expectations for participation and feel only appreciation for those who join us in the spirit of our ambitions. 

That said, though, we do expect to generate one heckuva crowd and encourage anyone to make use of it. Musicians are free to put out a (digital or old skool) tip jar or sell their music and merch, artists and crafters set up shop at The Altama, and enterprising neighbors and do-good nonprofits help make other entertainments available. If it's legal, have at it.

Who's performing?

The 2023 Porchfest is expected to feature many individual acts spread across an equal number of porches. Stay tuned!

 Who should come?

Everyone! Vidalia Porchfest is family-friendly and open to all, with all kinds of music and performances to suit all kinds of tastes. 

 Do I need a ticket?

No ticket required. The event is open to all and totally free.

Is there a map or some kind of schedule?

Yes. In a variety of formats — printed, online, or downloadable print-at-home  — which will all be available at the appropriate time here.

​Is Porchfest accessible for those with disabilities?

It is. We prioritize walking and rolling (including wheelchairs) over motor vehicles in most areas of the event. And Jackson Heights has got a fairly solid network of accessible sidewalks and curb ramps as well to get you through and around the neighborhood.

Beyond that, we do everything we can to discourage driving. In addition to reducing traffic around more vulnerable visitors, this also ensures that those who absolutely do have to drive (such as those with disabilities) can find adequate parking in close proximity to where things are happening.

Will you be closing streets?

No except for 6th Street to accommodate Food Trucks. We're committed to the sharing of public space and making the effort to accommodate one another. For drivers, this means slowing down dramatically and expecting to find pedestrians, bikes, and crowds spilling out into the street. And for those enjoying the festival, it means remaining vigilant, exercising caution, and recognizing that sometimes people in cars just need to get somewhere. So relax, get out of the way when appropriate (especially in the case of emergency vehicles), and make it work. It's the neighborly thing to do.

Alcoholic Beverages

Important: Vidalia Porchfest is not a festival in the conventional sense and does not have a contained and managed festival area. That means there are no alcohol sales. Event performances generally take place on private property but by default are linked by public streets and spaces in between, so be advised: When in public, you're liable for your own behavior and subject to all existing ordinances regarding alcohol consumption and public disruption. So be cool.

Is there a hashtag?

Use #vidaliaporchfest for all your tweeting, Instagramming and Facebooking needs.

Are there pictures?

There will be lots of pictures! Which we hope you'll add to significantly. Check out and add to the #vidaliaporchfest hashtag on Instagram

I've still got questions.

Email us.

 Who organizes this?

Vidalia Porchfest is brought to you by The Altama Museum of Art & History, the Porchfest organizing crew, musicians and artists from all over, and so many neighbors, with the added assistance of City of Vidalia’s Police Department and Public Works.