Carmel PorchFest celebrates 10 years

57 bands performing on 21 porches in Arts & Design District

Carmel PorchFest returns to the Arts & Design District from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17. Carmel PorchFest is a family-friendly community event where a variety of musical acts perform live on neighborhood porches. The event is free to everyone.

Carmel PorchFest is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The Carmel High School drum line will kick off the event with a parade down 1st Avenue NW from 1st Street to 6th Street starting at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.

  • Carmel PorchFest T-shirts will be available for sale onsite.
  • You can get your picture taken next to a giant guitar to commemorate the special occasion.
  • Two 10-year bands, Circuit Thursday and The Failers, will be presented with a gift for being a part of all 10 Carmel Porchfest events.

Several local companies have come forward to sponsor PorchFest. Sponsors of note include:

  • Meridian X Main Realty
  • Hotel Carmichael
  • Chateau Kitchens
  • Republic Airways
  • Tonn & Blank Construction

Fifty-seven musical acts will perform live on 21 beautiful neighborhood porches on the streets just north of Main Street in downtown Carmel. The musicians represent a wide variety of musical genres including rock, pop, jazz, blues, and country. Each act will perform a 45-minute set. The schedule can be found online and will be handed out onsite.

Two new musical acts to check out include:

  • The Wallow Hollows is a blues-infused folk-rock band from Indianapolis. They are fronted by singer/songwriter Jonathan Hunter and songwriter/guitarist Dakota Girton.
  • First and Foremost, featuring Josh Hassett (Carmel) and Clarissa Cheslyn (Indy), is a little band with big sound. With more than three decades of live music experience between them, First and Foremost has something for everyone.

Attendees can bring lawn chairs to sit in front of chosen porches and/or travel from porch to porch to experience the event. Local streets will be closed to traffic starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Food and beverage vendors will also be present during the event.

Food vendors

  • Arepas
  • DavAni BBQ
  • Ice Cream Donuts
  • Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
  • Tropical Sno Cone
  • Wick’s Pies

Adult beverage vendors for those 21 and over

  • Bier Brewery
  • Peace Water Winery
  • Sugar Creek Winery

Additional beverage option vendors

  • Anna & Asa’s Lemonade stand
  • Pure Green Juice

Other vendors

  • AAA Insurance
  • All Things Carmel
  • Bach2Rock Carmel
  • Old Town Design Group
  • Carmel Fire Department
  • The Republic Lift Lab

For more information, go to CarmelPorchFest.org.