St. Anne’s Hill Porches Turn into Stages for Dayton Porchfest 

This Saturday, Aug. 16, Dayton Porchfest is set to take over the porches, front yards and sidewalks of the historic St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood just east of downtown Dayton. The free, all-ages event transforms the community into a walkable music festival featuring dozens of local acts. Organized by The Collaboratory, Porchfest welcomes families, dog-walkers and music lovers to explore block after block of live performances in an open, casual atmosphere. 

First launched in 2017, Dayton Porchfest began with just a handful of acts. It has since grown into a citywide celebration featuring more than 50 performing groups in recent years, spanning genres such as folk, rock, R&B, jazz, blues, country, hip-hop, bluegrass and more. About 40% of performers each year are new to the event, keeping the lineup fresh and providing a platform for emerging voices in the Dayton music scene. 

The festival will kick off early Saturday afternoon with a performance courtesy of the TRSS Drum Corps. From there, the music will stretch down six music blocks throughout the day. Attendees can follow printed or online schedule maps, with each porch marked by artist signs. The day will conclude with an afterfest concert at Levitt Pavilion, while Fifth Street Brewpub will host attendees later into the evening, helping the festivities extend well beyond when the last porch light goes out.  

For more information and a full schedule, visit the porchfest’s official website.