Each year on a September Sunday in Gerstle Park, San Rafael, rows of front porches transform into stages and the community become the audience. The tree-shaded streets fill with music ranging from bagpipes to bluegrass, and rock to salsa. For just one day, this quiet neighborhood becomes an outdoor music festival spanning dozens of homes. San Rafael PorchFest, which celebrates community, creativity, and friendship is now in its sixth year.

“PorchFest has really exceeded my expectations,” says Tom Obletz, the Gerstle Park resident responsible for bringing the event to San Rafael back in 2018. As a 50-year San Rafael resident who served eight years on the Gerstle Park Neighborhood Association (GPNA) committee and co-founded the Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods, Obletz had the idea to transform the neighborhood’s front porches into stages for local musicians.

However, PorchFest wasn’t created in San Rafael, or even in California. The concept originated in Ithaca, New York in 2007 as a result of residents Lesley Greene and Gretchen Hildreth’s inspiration from their ukulele-playing neighbor. The two created the event as a way to bring their neighbors together and celebrate the community’s vibrant musical talent. At Cornell University, PorchFest was meant to be a back-to-school celebration, which then turned into the model of a free event to be staffed by volunteers and serve as a fundraiser for musical nonprofits. There are now more than 60 communities across the United States and Canada that host their own versions of the festival, each with their own local twist, but all share the same concept of music, neighbors, and front porches.

It was back in 2017 when Tom Obletz found himself wandering the Napa PorchFest. Throughout the day, he took mental notes of nearly everything he saw. He took photos and made notes about various patterns and coordination. As the afternoon went on, Obletz found himself thinking more and more about his own neighborhood; Gerstle Park in San Rafael. With its historic homes and beautiful tree-lined streets, it seemed the perfect place for another PorchFest location. 

“After attending in Napa, I got in touch with their police department and the park and recreation director,” Obletz explains. “They shared advice about crowd control, management aspects of porches, food trucks, permits, and more.” With pictures and observations, Obletz headed to the GPNA board and the mayor of San Rafael with detailed presentations which outlined his vision. The alcohol-free aspect of the PorchFest particularly resonated with the mayor at the time and helped bring it one step closer to reality.

“The mayor was enthused at the idea of having an alcohol-free event in San Rafael,” Obletz remembers. With support from Brian Auger, the previous event planner for San Rafael who helped secure permits with the police department and arrange for barricades and traffic signs, the idea of San Rafael PorchFest became reality.

Gina Silvestri, the current President of GPNA, explains that the neighborhood association stepped in to help organize sponsors, hold bank accounts, and take financial responsibility for the event. “We cover things like city permits, porta potties, and security,” she says.

Now that Porchfest has had six years here, Obletz describes the event as “a well-oiled machine.” The rights to San Rafael PorchFest were officially given to the Gerstle Park Neighborhood Association, which continues to care for and grow the event.

Of course, the heart of PorchFest is the music, with last year’s festival featuring 75 bands performing on 25 porches. Nyles Lannon, a committee member who performs with the band Nyte Skye and helps select musicians, describes the challenging but rewarding process of putting together the festival’s lineup. “Every year gets bigger,” he says. “Our first line of business is: is the band any good? How are they as performers and will it work for this kind of event?”

Lannon and the rest of the selection committee make sure to keep balance between talent with community spirit. “Who am I to say these neighbors can’t have their buddy play?” Lannon states. “We want to balance band talent but also respect the community to make neighbors happy.”

The process of performer selection begins with online applications in early March which remain open for several months. The committee reviews submissions to create a list of potential performers. According to Lannon, the hard part comes when it’s time to cut down to around 100 qualified bands in order to work towards fitting the 60-65 available slots.

“It takes about a week to finalize after cutting down and grouping bands together,” Lannon explains. He and the committee must consider not only quality but also sound management, which is grouping quieter bands near each other and scheduling louder bands when there’s no performance happening next door.

Lannon takes great pride in the festival’s musical diversity. “We’re trying to get beyond the PorchFest cliche of folky, bluegrass music,” he says. “We have metal, jazz, hip hop, funk, bagpipes, opera, salsa, and even traditional Cuban. We’re also always trying to include local salsa and Mexican music.”

With the growing number of musicians, volunteers, sponsors, and attendees, the festival continues to represent the best of San Rafael. As Silvestri mentions, “We love the fact that PorchFest celebrates the diversity of our city, and we’re always very mindful of that.”

For PorchFest attendees, the day unfolds as you pick up a map indicating performance locations and times, and continue to plan a route through the neighborhood based on who you want to see perform. Between performances, festival-goers wander through the streets to discover local businesses that set up booths or explore the various food vendors. By the afternoon, the event reaches its peak, where multiple performances are often happening across the neighborhood. With performances wrapping up around 5 p.m., attendees make their way back to shuttle stops or their cars, but many take a detour through downtown San Rafael for dinner. 

Marin County Breakdown, a family bluegrass band, consisting of Julie Steier on mandolin, her husband Gary Millar on banjo, their daughter Sarah Jo Millar on bass and banjo, nephew Cory McClintic on guitar, and son-in-law Daniel Coles on guitar, has performed at PorchFest for three consecutive years now.

“Our first year, we had heavy rain and had to set up in the street with a tent, but it was still a really great experience!” Steier recalls. Despite the unlucky weather, they drew a good crowd. In the following years at PorchFest, they performed on a small front porch and most recently on Bayview Street, where they played for over 100 people.

The bands often share equipment with others scheduled for the same porch, with strict start times to prevent sound overlap. “We usually perform for about an hour,” Steier says.

For bands like Marin County Breakdown, PorchFest offers exposure and the opportunity to connect with the community. “We always have a fun time checking out the other music,” Steier says, noting the variety of genres represented.

Another veteran PorchFest band is the MacIntosh Pipe Band, led by founder and Pipe Major Janice Richey. What began as a small group of adult beginners has now evolved into about 16-18 pipers and six drummers drawn from all over the Bay Area. Richey’s journey to PorchFest began when she grew up playing in the Prince Charles Pipe Band. After taking a break, her former teacher called and asked if she would teach beginner-level adults. Classes through adult education programs led to a small group of four to five men, where they proposed forming a new band with the addition of drummers. Today, the MacIntosh Pipe Band competes in competitions (they were Grade 4 champions in 2000) and performs regularly at events like the 4th of July parade in Larkspur and St. Patrick’s Day in Novato. They’ve participated in PorchFest multiple times and bring a unique sound to the festival’s lineup.

PorchFest wouldn’t be possible without its group of volunteers. Last year, 84 people helped coordinate everything from setup to cleanup, band support to information booths. Brenda Goeden, PorchFest volunteer coordinator, oversees this aspect of the festival. “We need around 4-5 volunteers before the event, 4-6 during the event, but would always love to get more than we’ve had in the past,” she says. High school students are particularly valued as volunteers as they serve as block captains who roam street blocks answering questions about bands and hosts. “The job is generally mellow, and students are usually teamed up in pairs,” Goeden explains. Other volunteer positions include T-shirt sales, information booth staffing, and food distribution to bands.

The volunteer process is very straightforward and simple. Interested individuals fill out a form on the website, which then gets sent to Goeden. She responds with assignments which include time, date, and other specifics. Volunteers then attend an orientation where they meet each other, get information about the day, sign waivers, and participate in a pre-event celebration where they receive free T-shirts. Event setup occurs the day before the event, with volunteers placing barricades and banners to prepare for Sunday’s festivities.

While PorchFest is free to attend, it requires financial support to cover expenses like security, barricades, permits, and portable toilets. Kim McGinnis is in charge of raising sponsorships, which she does by approaching local businesses for donations. “Sponsoring is mostly about having their business name out there as a company who supports their community,” she says. She begins seeking sponsors in early March by sending emails to past contributors and reaching out to potential new supporters. Sponsorship money must be secured by August 1 to appear on posters and the website, and in order to fund infrastructure costs.

Sponsorship levels range from “Friend & Neighbor” ($300) to “Platinum” ($2,000). Some businesses contribute by providing lunches for volunteers. Bank of Marin has previously sponsored the volunteer program with shirts and supplies. While San Rafael businesses are the target for sponsorships, McGinnis also approaches companies throughout the rest of Marin County. “Somebody really into their community makes a good sponsor,” she notes. One previous sponsor is Woodlands Pet Food and Treats, who provide dog water bowl stations throughout the Gerstle Park streets for pets to stay cool and hydrated throughout the warm day. 

With approximately 6,000 attendees each year, PorchFest has become one of San Rafael’s most beloved events. For Jack McCall, a San Rafael High School senior who has attended the festival, the experience is unbeatable. “There’s hundreds and hundreds of people. Some bring their families, some bring chairs, some bring wagons full of stuff, but each and every one of them has such a unique look and it’s really fun to people watch,” McCall says.

The event is carefully organized to ensure attendees’ comfort and enjoyment. “The stands are like every other major event except that these ones are all local,” McCall notes. “There’s food vendors, companies advertising, the fire and police departments, bathroom stations and water refill stations. It’s set up perfectly so that everything you could possibly need is readily available.”

Beyond the music and amenities, McCall appreciates the festival’s social aspect. “Being there is such a vibe. Whether you’re alone or with friends or family, there’s always a way to have a good time and you will always find fun people playing music you like somewhere. It’s a great place to make friends. I’ve made many there and since so many people go, you’ll always find friends there.”

In the months before the performances begin, the committee and board members work with Gerstle Park residents to identify porches to use. Unlike some other PorchFest events where residents are able to choose their own bands, San Rafael carefully selects both the locations and performers in order to create the best experience for all.

“We ask neighbors if they’d be porch hosts while being very careful to avoid sound bleed, so we pick locations equally spread apart from each other,” explains Silvestri. This approach works to prevent the side effects that might occur from performances too close together.

For this, timing is one of the most crucial elements. With performances being staggered throughout the day, most will typically run for about an hour. This allows attendees to move from porch to porch without having to miss performances, and gives bands time to set up and pack up their equipment.

The festival’s growth has increased partnerships with city departments. “We have to talk to parking and police departments to be on duty, fire department, and the parks department because of the stage at Gerstle Park,” Silvestri notes. These connections help ensure the safety of everyone in attendance. 

Organizers make an emphasis on accessibility and environmental responsibility. Walking or biking is very encouraged, but Vivalon runs two handicap-accessible shuttles between the parking garage on C Street at 3rd Street, and the D Street at Bayview entrance to what is called the “Porch Zone” from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. 

Also, the city of San Rafael partners with PorchFest, with one sponsor covering the cost of the Vivalon shuttle buses. “The idea is that everyone who shuttles back to their car ends up on or near 4th Street and can go out to dinner or shop or walk around,” explains Silvestri. “The event has always been something the city loves because people explore the restaurants and shops downtown.”

While the main focus of PorchFest remains on music and community connection, the event has developed into an economic tool for San Rafael businesses. With thousands of attendees flowing through the neighborhood and into the downtown streets, local businesses see an increase in foot traffic and customers on festival day, especially with the strategic location of shuttle stops being near Fourth Street which helps to encourage people to explore more of San Rafael beyond the festival itself.

For the downtown businesses, PorchFest allows them to connect with customers. Many participate directly as sponsors by setting up booths within the festival or by marketing to attendees. Potentially the most important part of PorchFest is that it introduces visitors from throughout Marin County and elsewhere to San Rafael’s unique character and offerings, even beyond the music. Attendees often discover local businesses they might not have encountered if not attending the festival, potentially generating return visits. This adds another layer to PorchFest’s value, in which it creates a cycle where San Rafael businesses benefit from and are able to contribute to the festival’s success.

The alcohol-free atmosphere of PorchFest is one of the biggest sources of pride. “People can come to PorchFest and see the talent and musically inclined community we have,” Silvestri says. “San Rafael has so many communities that come together for this, and people appreciate that it’s family friendly. No alcohol being sold makes it different from other events.” She adds, “Our community can feel safe bringing their kids to PorchFest because they won’t encounter people who have been drinking. This is a very important piece to the event and we’re proud of it. Everyone will be comfortable and able to enjoy this event!”

San Rafael’s PorchFest doesn’t exist by itself. Obletz is a member of a highly selective, private Facebook group called PorchFest Organizers International, where other PorchFest organizers can share resources with each other. This includes things like spreadsheets of expenses and costs, poster designs, sponsorships, and methods. “This page serves as a great opportunity to start new events and get current ones to be even better,” says Obletz. He explains that the group allows organizers to learn from each other’s experiences, therefore avoiding the need to “start from scratch” when planning or bettering a PorchFest of their own.

With the growing number of musicians, volunteers, sponsors, and attendees, the festival continues to represent the best of San Rafael. As Silvestri mentions, “We love the fact that PorchFest celebrates the diversity of our city, and we’re always very mindful of that.”

Whether you’re a musician seeking an engaged audience, someone looking to volunteer, a local business wanting to support the community, or in search of a unique musical experience, San Rafael’s version of PorchFest allows all a way to connect with neighbors through the language and love of music.