FAQ's
FAQ's
 
What is this?
The Tonawanda Porchfest is a grassroots community music event where front porches become stages, yards become venues, and generosity and good will rule the day. Porchfest is a family-friendly event featuring musicians from a wide variety of genres. It is a fun way to enjoy new bands and performing acts!
We welcome all to come and enjoy the Tonawanda Porchfest. Performances are range from 40-60 minutes, so we encourage people to bring chairs (those fold up in a bag chairs work perfectly) or a blanket to sit on. Attendees are encouraged to bring snacks and can even bring a cooler - all we ask is that everyone help keep our city clean by picking up any trash they might create. 

How does it work?
Porchfest is much more an afternoon of coordinated yard performances than it is a conventional festival. There's no real boss, no specific enclosed or protected area, and everything you see and experience exists only because someone decided to step up and make it happen. The organizing committee, exists only to manage basic front-end logistics, coordinate performances, and promote the day.

For attendees, all normal rules of law and order apply and, just like any other day, everyone remains responsible for their own behavior and welfare when moving from yard to yard. Wander around, keep yourself safe, and watch out for others. Pretty simple. 
 
When's it happening?
Everything goes down Sunday August 28th from 1 pm to 6 pm. 

Where does it take place?
Throughout the City of Tonawanda

I want to play or host a band.
All you have to do is register. We have links on our webpage to signup

Do the musicians get paid?
No one does. Ours is an experiment in radical generosity and good will —predicated solely on the act of giving — which applies equally to everyone involved. Organizers, performers, porch hosts, and others all participate as volunteers all give freely of their time, talents, resources, and hospitality as a gift to the neighborhood and to each other. 

Musicians are free to put out a tip jar or sell their music and merch, artists and crafters set up yard-shops.

Who's performing?
We will have a map and schedule available closer to August 28th

Who should come?
Everyone! Tonawanda Porchfest is family-friendly and open to all, with all kinds of music to suit all kinds of tastes.  

Do I need a ticket?
No ticket required. The event is open to all and totally free. 

Is there a map or schedule?
Yes. In a variety of formats — printed, online, or downloadable print-at-home — which will all be available on the website and Facebook

Will you be closing streets?
No. We're committed to the sharing of public space and making the effort to accommodate one another. For drivers, this means slowing down dramatically and expecting to find pedestrians, bikes, and crowds spilling out into the street. And for those enjoying the festival, it means remaining vigilant, exercising caution, and recognizing that sometimes people in cars just need to get somewhere. So, relax, get out of the way when appropriate (especially in the case of emergency vehicles), and make it work. It's the neighborly thing to do.

I've still got questions.
Email us: cotporchfest@gmail.com 

Who organizes this?
The Tonawanda Porchfest is planned by a committee of residents, an all volunteer crew, countless musicians, and hundreds of Tonawanda neighbors.

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