Slow Down and Enjoy the Summer at Napa Porchfest

Napa Valley provides visitors with many different reasons to visit throughout the year. From gorgeous weather to sensational wine through eating Christmas dinner on the Napa Valley Wine Train, this incredible location has so much to offer. As for mid-summer celebrations, nothing tempts the mind quite as much as Porchfest.

Porchfest 2017 falls on July 30, in the height of Napa Valley’s incredible summer sun. Attend anytime between noon and 6 p.m. This is a summer afternoon replete with music, walks through the historic neighborhoods of Napa, and musicians from many different genres — not that unusual for a festival.

What is unusual is that the musicians play not from a stage, but right from the front porches of  many Napa Valley homes. Dozens of houses in Napa take part in this down-home, cozy musical tradition each year. It’s the perfect place to discover true Napa culture first-hand.

Whether you’re a fan of rock and roll, folk music, string bands, country, or the good, old-fashioned blues, a quick walk around the town is sure to reveal exactly what you love most. Enjoy live music without having to pay high ticket prices or deal with large crowds. Get to know the neighbors. Find your new home-away-from-home.

Food, Amenities, and Souvenirs

Most of Napa’s restaurants remain open for Porchfest, so it’s easy to stop in for a bite to eat along the way. Food truck roundups at Fuller Park ease the load on local restaurants, providing delicious food, shade, picnic tables, and bathrooms. Streets aren’t accessible by vehicles, so bike rentals make the most sense throughout the day for travel. Souvenir-wise, vendors often set up shops with everything from t-shirts to music all throughout the town.

Award-Winning Event

If you find yourself at the beautiful Napa Valley Hotel & Suites during this festival, you are in luck.  It’s just a short distance away to enjoy everything the award-winning event has to offer. No other festival is as near and dear to the hearts of local residents as Porchfest, and that’s reflected in their long string of past awards. Porchfest was the recipient of the Bohemian Award for the Best Music Festival in 2013, 2014, and 2015, so you can be sure you’re getting a stand-out experience if you come.  

History

Porchfest began in 2011 with a mission to bring friends and neighbors together through music from local musicians. Unlike everyday concerts, organizers wanted to make it feel more like a family celebration than a commercial concert — that’s where the idea of porch performances comes from. Bringing new sounds out of the garage and onto the porch might not seem like a big deal for some, but for others, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.   

2017 Specifics

This is Napa’s 6th annual Porch Festival. It’s still a one-day event that showcases musicians from in and around Napa as they play on some of the most historic porches in the town.  Mark it on your calendar and make your reservations early; spots fill up fast at Napa Valley Hotel & Suites. Tell your friends, bring your beach chairs, and get ready to mingle with the public as you wander from porch to porch!