By George Basler
Binghamton Porchfest began back in 2015 with 50 bands on 20 porches, four “porta potties” and no official permit from the City of Binghamton.
Since then, it’s grown into “a significant Binghamton event” that draws crowds to the West Side each year for a free afternoon of live music and fun, said Mayor Jared M. Kraham as he promoted this year’s festival.
The event, running from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 28), will feature 165 local and regional bands and performers at 59 host locations (residential porches, stoops and yards) throughout the Abel Bennett Historic Tract. Featured will be an eclectic mix of music from folk to hip-hop, opera to heavy metal, rock to Irish fiddling, jazz to country, steel drum to punk.
Founder and Director Chris Bodnarczuk calls it one big block party. “It’s a unique way to build community and be with neighbors in a very unique way,” he said.
The festival’s footprint is roughly a quarter square mile, defined by the rough borders of Riverside Drive, Chestnut Street, Recreation Park and Beethoven Street. Most streets will be closed to traffic, but Lourdes Hospital is offering free parking in their back lot at the end of Lourdes Road. Shuttle buses and trolleys will run every 15 minutes from the Lourdes parking lot to the festival area, organizers said.
“It’s a great opportunity to see how much art and music this area has to offer,” said Chloe Solan, who will be performing at Porchfest with her musical partner, Taylor Vallett.
Kraham emphasized that Porchfest is a “family friendly” event, and the city will enforce open container laws. Food vendors, restroom facilities and trash and recycling bins will be located throughout the neighborhood. A merchandise tent and an information tent will be at the intersection of Millard and Johnson streets.
One new feature this year: Cans and bottles will be collected to benefit fundraising efforts for the Danielle House, organizers said.
The event has “a real neighborhood feeling” as people fill the streets to mingle and listen to performers, said Scott Schwartz, who lives at 19 Lathrop Ave. He and his wife, Kimberli, moved into their home seven years ago on the day before the first Porchfest. This year they will host three musical performances on their porch.
Like the many other Porchfests operating independently throughout the country, Binghamton Porchfest is community run. It was modeled after a community festival hosted by residents of Ithaca since 2007, said Bodnarczuk, whose year-round job is that of marketing director at Binghamton University’s Anderson Center.
“I thought it was a nice idea that would work well in this neighborhood,” he said about the festival’s beginnings seven years ago. He especially likes the event’s intimate feeling. The afternoon of music builds “a real sense of ownership” for organizers and community residents, he said.
More information – including schedule, band bios and a map – is available at binghamtonporchfest.com.
Binghamton Porchfest 2022 is made possible by presenting sponsor True View Security Solutions, with additional support from the City of Binghamton and Mayor Jared Kraham, Cavanaugh’s Grocery, Davidson Fox, and Visions Federal Credit Union. This event is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Earlville Opera House. Additional support for the Broome SCR Program graciously provided by the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc.
Porchfest Logo created by Bess Greenberg
