Porch Fest: A Family-Friendly Music and Arts Celebration

“Happy Porch Fest!” says one person to another. “Happy Porch Fest to you, too!” This may sound odd to anyone, except those walking down Lincoln Street on Porch Fest Day. Now in its fourth year, Porch Fest is becoming a Sitka tradition.

Porch Fest 2023

Sitka Porch Fest is the brainchild of Dixon Elegant, who came to Sitka from New York as an AmeriCorps Volunteer. After her time with AmeriCorps ended, she decided to remain in Sitka. Elegant grew up in a family of musicians and had attended Porch Fests around the country. “I thought starting one in Sitka might be a perfect fit,” she said. So, Elegant approached the Greater Sitka Arts Council (GSAC) for support and a means to implement her idea. And, Sitka Porch Fest was born.

In other locations, Porch Fests are centered around the idea that local musicians perform, literally, on front or back porches. Along with GSAC’s Rain Van Den Berg and Pat Kehoe of the Island Artists Coop, Elegant took it from just music to all types of arts. The idea is the same – a place for local musicians and artists to gather, teach and perform in “low stakes” venues.

Porch Fest 2023

May 18 will be this year’s celebration, with new coordinator Van Den Berg at the helm. She explains “The day was picked as a low-tourist day, as the event is designed primarily with Sitkans and independent visitors in mind.” There will be three stages along Lincoln Street for musicians to perform live: (1) the Net Shed by Crescent Harbor, (2) in front of the Lutheran Church and (3) a small stage next to Russell’s Sporting Goods. Everyone is welcome to perform or just come and enjoy the talents of Sitka’s musicians.

Lincoln Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from St. Michael’s Cathedral down to Katlian Street from 11am to 5pm for this year’s festivities. The street closure fosters a fun, communal atmosphere with food booths, art vendors and art workshops. “Island Artists Gallery will have a booth for teaching techniques such as watercolor painting, pen-and-ink drawing and a mini-photography course,” says Pat Kehoe.

Other stores will have artists selling their work, ranging from pottery to woven pieces, jewelry and candles. “In past years, there were booths for making art from cast-off utensils, tiles, fabrics and other unusual art materials,” says Van Den Berg. “There is also the famous chalk-coloring station encouraging people to create impromptu chalk art on the ground.”

Back porch of Beak Restaurant at Porch Fest 2023

Over the years, different dance groups and aerial artists have performed right on Lincoln Street – Sitka Studio of Dance, the New Archangel Dancers, and Sitka Cirque have all participated. Cirque students have expressed how cool it is to soar on a silk or a trapeze right in front of St. Michael’s Cathedral.

At its heart, Porch Fest is a celebration of local culture by Sitkans for Sitkans. It is always family-friendly and free. Sitka relishes the arts and loves to perform. Artists of all abilities and ages can share and participate. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience and helps usher in the summer. Once again, Sitka being Sitka.

For more info visit sitkaartscouncil.org/porchfest and follow GSAC on Facebook.