Larchmere PorchFest 2022

One fall evening, 13 years ago, a group of Larchmere neighbors were chatting about ways to promote our fantastic neighborhood. One neighbor told the group about PorchFest in Ithaca, NY where musicians perform on the front porches of homes. One of the neighbors participating in that casual conversation could not stop thinking about the possibility of a PorchFest in Larchmere. She got a group of neighbors and friends together to talk about the idea and gauge interest. Thus, the first official Larchmere PorchFest meeting took place! The PorchFest committee is made up of people who either live, work or have other ties to the Larchmere and Shaker Square neighborhoods. It is a motivated and enthusiastic group that shares a common love for music, the urban environment, and the community. Though it has grown over the years, a lot of the original members are still involved with the event and still support the event in some capacity.

We have a proven history of working well together and can depend on one another to produce an awesome event. Each of us has a unique skill or passion to contribute, along with connections to local businesses and community groups. Some work in the arts, music and entertainment industries, while others have event planning, financial accounting, community organizing, and graphic design experience. Each Larchmere PorchFest has been more successful than the previous year; 2022 represents our 14h annual event! 

PORCHFEST IS BACK IN 2022!

LPF, like much of the community, was put on hold in its original form in the summers of 2020 and 2021. As a response to the strain that the pandemic put on our community, we hosted Tiny PorchFest: a series of small concerts over both summers that were intentionally small and focused on providing our biggest supporters - the Larchmere neighborhood - a moment of relief from the effects of Covid-19

But now that infection rates are subsiding and the world is opening back up, we believe now is the time to bring back our event in a safe and respectful way. in the past, Larchmere PorchFest is a celebration of music and community comprised of 30 musical performances on porches, stoops, and patios throughout the Larchmere neighborhood. This year's event will boast 22 performances: "22 in the year 2022"

The event is FREE and open to the public. It begins at midday and has a schedule of multiple simultaneous performances throughout the neighborhood. Throughout the day we are planning on offering children's activities and or performances, a beer garden with DJ, and a mini poetry fest! Everything culminates with a 2 band finale that brings the crowd and neighborhood together in celebration! Finally, the festivities continue after hours with performances at local businesses until 10 pm! 

This event remains one of the most anticipated events to kick off the summer fun and we couldn't do it without the support of our neighbors, partners, merchants, and lovers of local music and art! Please consider donating today!

Planning Larchmere PorchFest 2022 is already underway! 

Board Meetings and committee meetings have been taking place and we are looking for volunteers.  Committees include Music, Logistics, Marketing and Finance and are made up of dedicated volunteers. Planning begins with selecting a date, addressing logistics, including security, trash removal and permitting, securing sponsorships for each band, booking sound, contacting the bands and after-party venues, securing porch hosts and engaging volunteers. In addition to all of that, we determine additional programming, manage inquiries, implement a marketing campaign via social media, print, radio and television, design merchandise and much more! PorchFest would not be possible without such an amazing group of dedicated volunteers. 

Larchmere PorchFest is motivated, organized and inspired by the local community. Our annual event has always had a goal to serve the Larchmere community and visitors from all over Cleveland and beyond. We are exposing individuals to the diversity of the Larchmere community and inviting them to become neighbors. We additionally support local artists from a variety of musical backgrounds, from jazz to opera, hip-hop to Zydeco and everything in between giving individuals the opportunity to listen to and support musical talent they may never have discovered otherwise. 

In recent years with the growth of the event, we have also made efforts to be more environmentally conscious, including increasing the number of day-of-event volunteers to monitor and collect recycling, providing alternatives to bottled water through a water buggy and educating Larchmere merchants and vendors on ways to reduce waste.

Ultimately we hope to combat community deterioration, lessen neighborhood tension, build community cohesion, and to promote and enhance the community surrounding Larchmere Boulevard by promoting social welfare through the arts by fostering an environment in which music and arts can thrive.