Seventh Annual Napa PorchFest Draws 15,000

The popular event showcasing local bands took over Old Napa on Sunday, July 30.

Maggie Fusek, Patch Staff

Posted Fri, Aug 4, 2017 at 1:12 pm PT|Updated Fri, Aug 4, 2017 at 1:15 pm PT

NAPA, CA -- More than an estimated 15,000 music lovers converged on Napa neighborhoods Sunday, July 30 for the seventh edition of Napa PorchFest. Organizers use the slogan "out of the garage and onto the porch" for local bands of many types to showcase their music from a porch of one of Napa's historic homes.

While most of the 67 host-home porches used Sunday were centered in the Old Napa area between Jefferson Street and the Napa River, some were in the Alta Heights area. This year, organizers moved the core PorchFest operations that outgrew the original Napa Library parking lot and the hot asphalt to the tree-shaded, grassy Fuller Park.

Eight food trucks vendors that lined the Seminary side of Fuller Park struggled to keep up with hungry hungry PorchFest participants, with extremely long lines this year.

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Some 130 local bands filled the sun-drenched neighborhoods with a cornucopia of music.

The band N2C, which refers to itself as a "seriously for cover band," kicked off the event at the magnificent Churchill Manor, with its white pillars, large wrap-around porch and manicured lawn. The band's three female vocalists belted out the lyrics, "I'm here for the party."

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The band N2C performs on the porch of Churchill Manor, July 30, 2017 for Napa PorchFest. (Photo by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)

Churchill Manor provided one of the most beautiful backdrops for Napa PorchFest on Sunday. A lush lawn allows guest to use chairs or blankets for VIP viewing of bands. (Photo by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)

Napa PorchFest organizers consider a band local if at least one member is from Napa. Napa PorchFest co-founder Juliana Inman, city of Napa vice-mayor, shared that PorchFest originated in 2007 in Ithaca, New York. In 2007, Napa PorchFest was the first such event west of the Mississippi, attracting about 2,500 attendees that first year and an estimated 4,500 the second year.

Organizers take pride in the fact that PorchFest is a family-oriented event with no alcohol sold, nor is it a fundraiser and there is no concert stage or amphitheater. Nor does the small group advertise the event outside of Napa -- but word has spread.

Napa Landmark helps support the event, and PorchFest T-shirt sales help fund the program. The group also needs more volunteers to assist. Napa organizers hope PorchFest will catch on in other communities.