Our West Bayfront's Porch Fest 2025
Rock the block
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
Residents on Erie's west side are coming together to bring some local music to their fellow neighbors at the Sixth Annual Porch Fest. There will be over 20 local musical acts on porches throughout the West Bayfront neighborhoods, including: Royek, Jesse James Weston, Theresa Musatto, Steve Trohoske's 814 Monk Project, Slim and Red, and many more. Our West Bayfront's (OWB's) Porch Fest began as an idea between West Bayfront residents Chuck Nelson and Dave Tamulonis, as a way for musicians to safely play live and for Erie residents to get out of their homes during the COVID pandemic.
Co-founder Dave Tamulonis said, "Our West Bayfront has been involved to help boost our ability to fundraise and plan for the event. Huge shoutout to Starla Cochenour and Marissa Litzenberg; they provide some much needed support to help grow the event each year." Since the fest began in 2020, it has grown from only a handful of bands and houses to five bands per hour for five hours, including a headlining set by The V Band at St. Andrew's Church at 5 p.m. this year.
Organizers try to book a wide range of musicians, so that attendees can walk, bike, or drive through the neighborhood and hear an acoustic act, jazz, and rock all within a short distance. "The bands apply and are paired with a porch that fits their needs. Some larger porches fit the larger bands and solo performers can perform on stoops or small porches. Very rarely do we have to turn down an artist – the event has grown sustainably so that each year we can compensate all the artists fairly," explained Tamulonis. He went one to tell us that "many of these musicians love the event so much that they offer to donate their performance fee to the event."
There will be an information tent on the day of the event in Gridley Park (6th and Liberty), along with a fundraising merch table with PorchFest t-shirts. There will also be food and drink available for purchase by Dobbins Dogs, Erie Ale Works, and Chuck and Ginny's food truck, while The EMTA will be providing trolley rides to porches.
Porch Fests are common in communities across the nation local organizers believe it's a wonderful way to bring the community together to enjoy all the beautiful homes that make up the West Bayfront area. It's a fun and free event for the whole family, and if you want to host one next year, or perform at one, keep an eye out for a sign up through OWB for the 2026 event.
Noon to 5 p.m. // Various locations in the West Bayfront neighborhood // Free // For more info visit: ourwestbayfront.org
