Since 2018, Gerstle Park’s Porchfest has only grown. It began here as just a small neighborhood music festival, but these events have been held across the United States and Canada since 2007. A non-profit organization run by Tom Obletz, Porchfest pulls the majority of its members from the Gerstle Park neighborhood. He was inspired by the Napa Porchfest and decided to bring his own version of the worldwide movement to his community. Now it has boomed into several crowd-filled blocks, attracting people from all over the county, each year, further emphasizing its goal to bring the community together, as Off the Leash journalist Aly Seater reported last year.
Cristina Battani has been performing here since it first began. She says, “It’s not just a San Rafael event anymore, it’s a Marin and beyond event.” Battani is the main vocalist and guitarist of the reggae and alternative rock focused band, the evening hawks. Taking over volunteer duties when not performing, she enjoys being able to envelop herself in the variety of culture that flows through Gerstle Park’s blocks.
Over 20 porches, rotating between 65-75 bands (according to the event website), bring a variety of musical tunes. Battani has seen this event build on itself year after year. She said, “It’s gotten bigger and bigger.”
Scott Bell, a counselor at The Bay School of San Francisco who resides in Mill Valley, has also attended a majority of Porchfests. The biggest thing he has noticed change about it over the years is size. After attending every one since 2022, he also says, “It’s definitely gotten bigger each year.”
Eric Silverman, an indie-pop musician, has been playing music his whole life. This was his first ever time here. “[There is] a level of authenticity and immediacy [here at Porchfest],” says Eric Silverman. He could feel the burst of positivity from every corner of every block.
According to Silverman, the live music brings a deeper sense of authenticity to the community. Everyone ends up with a memorable, unique performance of an artist or band that they otherwise couldn’t get on record…and it’s free. As someone who plays live for others, Eric savors this aspect of performing because he hopes “he can create that special moment every time ” for whatever audience chooses to tune in on the block.
This event’s whole-heartedness isn’t just part of the ambience. It’s a core value of what Porchfest is. According to its own website, Porchfest is an “all- volunteer, family-friendly, free event…a day of fun, music, laughter and community building.”
“It’s literally a whole neighborhood blocked off for people just to hang out together,” says Scott Bell.
These values have been upheld through the community since Porchfest began. In 2022, Gerstle Park’s fourth Porchfest, quite a bit of rain came down during the afternoon on Sunday, September 25th. Battani remembers it well, not because of how the weather was, but how the people reacted. “There were still people everywhere, it was fantastic,” says Battani. “It was a huge pivot of how we had to set everything up.” The crowd wasn’t just willing to stay, they were happy to stay.
“It’s one of the best Bay Area music festivals, especially because it involves the community,” she says. “It’s definitely a neighborhood thing.”
Its positivity has expanded beyond Gerstle Park.