草莓传媒

Party at Petworth: Annual PorchFest features free music in NW

A crowd at PorchFest enjoying free music. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
Attendees crowd around a porch in D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
Porchfest was scheduled to take place last week, but was rescheduled due to stormy weather.(草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
A crowd at PorchFest listen outside the Vava United School of Samba. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
A corgi out enjoying PorchFest on Saturday. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
People enjoying a grassy area nearby PorchFest in Northwest. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
A group nearby PorchFest in Northwest. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
People line the streets of D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood for PorchFest. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
During Porchfest, musicians take over porches in Northwest. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
People enjoy food and drinks while listening to music at PorchFest. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
A band plays on a porch in Northwest. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
Attendees taking photos at Porchfest in Northwest D.C. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
A band playing PorchFest in D.C. (草莓传媒/Matt Kaufax)
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After being postponed for a week, the skies finally parted for porch goers in the Petworth neighborhood of Northwest D.C., who casually sipped and listened to the sounds of their favorite local bands jamming out Saturday afternoon.

鈥淚鈥檓 having a great time. It鈥檚 my first time here,鈥 said Lee Sova-Claypool, who came to PorchFest with a group to watch a friend perform.

PorchFest was supposed to take place back on April 21 but storms prompted organizers to postpone the event.

鈥淲e were going to come last week, and we were really disappointed we weren鈥檛 able to make it, so this is an excellent reschedule,鈥 she told 草莓传媒.

The wait was worth it.

鈥淎 lot of kids, a lot of dogs, a lot of people watching, the weather has been great and it really makes me want to live in this neighborhood,” Sova-Claypool said.

鈥淧orch is my favorite word 鈥 I love porches!鈥 she added.

But she wasn’t the only one having a good time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 got that block party energy; there鈥檚 kind of that sense of community,鈥 said Lewis May, who told 草莓传媒 that it was also his first Porchfest.

But for May, it was a success on more than one front.

鈥淚 played with a group that I鈥檓 in,” he said.

May and other performers jammed out well past the 6 p.m. end time for eager spectators enjoying a festive, yet relaxed vibe.

鈥淚t鈥檚 got that good welcoming energy,” he went on. “Especially because it鈥檚 free. You can just kind of walk around, and anybody can come.鈥

May says he might have a new favorite type of concert to play as a musician after Saturday, and that he will definitely be back in Petworth next year.

鈥淗ere, everybody鈥檚 lit up in the sun, so it just gives you a really beautiful view to look out on as you鈥檙e playing,鈥 he reflected.

鈥淚鈥檓 a first timer, not a frequent flyer,鈥 said Dustin Picard, who seemed to fall right in line with many others making an inaugural visit to Porchfest.

Picard says the afternoon exceeded all his expectations.

鈥淩eally cool vibes, just having the whole neighborhood out here, being able to bump around,” he said when asked about his thoughts on the event.

People of all ages played musical porches, fluttering from stoop to stoop, each band’s set up with its own unique feel.

Picard told 草莓传媒 that nothing beats reuniting with your old crew for a jam sesh on the porch. He says his favorite part of it all was seeing his friends.

鈥淲e all live in different parts of DC, but what鈥檚 really cool is this has brought us all together in this one neighborhood,” Picard said.

Matt Kaufax

If there's an off-the-beaten-path type of attraction, person or phenomenon in the D.C. area that you think more people should know about, Matt is your guy. An award-winning reporter for 草莓传媒, he's always on the hunt for stories that provide a unique local flavor鈥攁 slice of life if you will.

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