This year’s Historic Athens Porchfest is slated to be the biggest yet by far for an event that has only grown since its inception in 2019. More than 260 performers are taking the stage across seven neighborhoods—Boulevard, Buena Vista, Cobbham, Newtown, Normaltown, Pulaski Heights and Reese-Hancock—on Sunday, Oct. 19 from 1–8 p.m.
Ask anyone, and they’ll say that October is when Athens truly shines. For one, it’s packed full of events that celebrate the beauty and vibrancy of this town we call home. With the AthHalf on Oct. 12, Porchfest on the 19th and Wild Rumpus on the 25th, Athenians have three consecutive weekends of events to choose from.
The leaves have begun to change along the Boulevard walk, crunchy and brown underfoot. The trademark ginkgos, likewise, are letting loose waves of gold with the breeze. What was that, a chill in the air? The historic neighborhoods are at the height of their beauty. Historic Athens Director Tommy Valentine saw the wonderful autumn weather, the beautiful historic homes with their prominent Southern porches, and the amazing music that was being produced in town, and sought to combine it all into a single, free event.
There’s no shortage of talented performers this year, spanning genres from rock to rap, from Balkan folk music to klezmer. With a record number of porches hosting acts, and only one day to fit it all in, those wanting to make the most out of their experience may have to do some research beforehand on where their favorite artists are playing and plan accordingly.
Although Porchfest strives to be accessible to all, keep in mind that due to the unprecedented amount of performers, street parking will be highly limited. Luckily, historic districts and other intown neighborhoods pride themselves on their walkability, and attendees are encouraged to walk, skate or bike for both their safety and others.
Whether you’re hoping to catch some music solo or in a group, a good tactic is to choose two or three artists to prioritize and build a route around them, stopping at whatever house catches your eye (or ear) along the way. Or, if you’re more of a spontaneous sort of person, sometimes simply wandering along the streets, taking in the sights and sounds and the early fall energy of the event is enough. Who knows? You may even find your new favorite band that way.
If walking isn’t your speed, Historic Athens has partnered with Athens Trolley Tours to offer a free shuttle service, with stops across all seven neighborhoods. The shuttle will include a hop-on-hop-off guided tour from UGA master’s students from the Historic Preservation program, offering a nostalgic ride through Athens’ past, present and future.
Porchfest has a new interactive website this year that includes a comprehensive map with trolley stops marked. You can also find more information about individual performers and neighborhoods or browse frequently asked questions under the “About” section.
Be sure not to forget to stop by the Indie South Vendor Market at Normaltown Brewing from 1–7 p.m., where a wide array of local artists and makers will have booths. If you find yourself hungry at the market, the Cafe Racer food truck will be parked nearby at Buvez. Athentic Brewing Co. will also host a hub of local food trucks for more variety.
Historic Athens will host an official Porchfest Kick-Off Party at Athentic on Friday, Oct. 17. Beginning at 6 p.m., the party will kick off with Athens Trivia, allowing you to test your Classic City knowledge. Athentic will also be releasing its official beer of Historic Athens Porchfest 2025, Lost Places Lager. The lager can labels feature buildings and places that once were landmarks of the local landscape, but have since been demolished.
The party will also present an opportunity for concerned citizens to nominate structures for the 2025 Athens Places in Peril list. Begun by Historic Athens in 2019, the list is a grassroots initiative that helps to preserve structures listed on the National Registry of Historic Places that are under imminent threat of being destroyed, including such landmarks as the UGA President’s House, where a large hotel is planned, and Legion Pool, which UGA intends to demolish for parking.
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