About Brunswick Porchfest
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The concept is simple. Start with a bunch of local performers…set them up on porches of the beautiful, historic homes in Downtown Brunswick…invite all your friends…and let the magic happen. The result? One of the most anticipated public events of the year... Brunswick PorchFest!
While it seems like an idea that would have been born in Brunswick, the concept of PorchFest started in Ithaca, New York in 2007. Inspired by roaming ukulele players, two neighbors crafted the idea, and a national sensation was born. Since then, PorchFests have sprung up all over the country, each one uniquely reflective of their host neighborhood but with the same basic concept: performers + porches = community.
The PorchFest story in Brunswick began much the same way. The brainchild of Historic Old Town residents Angie Young and Susan Bates, the pair sold other enthusiastic neighbors on the concept (soon to be known as the Neighbor Gnomes). The group spent months, and their own money, planning the first Brunswick PorchFest in 2018. Twenty-eight porches and performers were a part of the inaugural event, everyone donating their time and talents to the cause.
And then it rained.
The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of this group, though. The show went on. Bands played, people danced in the rain, and a new tradition was born.
The following year, in 2019, the number of porches and performances almost doubled and the festival officially picked up event sponsors. The outpouring of support from local businesses was yet another highlight of our community’s goodwill as it ensured this DIY music festival would continue to be sustained as it evolved and grew. This was also the year the garden gnome became the official mascot of the event.
The second Sunday in November was a little quiet in 2020 when, after careful thought and input from our community, the Neighbor Gnomes made the decision not to host the event due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Taking the year off only made the 2021 event more successful and ushered in the first year the Neighbor Gnomes began introducing event themes to the festival. "Yardigras" transported PorchFest to New Orleans, as purple, green, and gold draped much of Old Town.
In 2022, the festival officially partnered with the City of Brunswick and the Downtown Development Authority to make the event an even better experience for everyone. Additionally, the group adopted two local philanthropic partners, Signature Squares and the Rise Risley Project, to donate any proceeds from merch sales. Festival goers found themselves transported to the Land of Oz as the theme, "There's No Place Like Gnome," gave a little extra magic to the event.
The Neighbor Gnomes knew the event was growing in size and popularity, but had no idea the 2023 event would attract 66 performers on 53 porches and close to 10,000 attendees! Our partnership with the City of Brunswick and the Downtown Development Authority continued, and philanthropic partners, Keep Golden Isles Beautiful and the African American Cultural Center benefited from merchandise sales. The theme "Porch of Call" had festival goers donning their best nautical outfits and bands blasting yacht rock music throughout the neighborhood.
As Brunswick PorchFest continues to grow and evolve, the central theme of the event will always stay the same. The free, family-friendly event will always celebrate the diversity, uniqueness, and generosity of our community and will always be the place "where porches become stages, and strangers become friends."
