JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As the calendar flips on to November, several popular events around Jacksonville - like the fair, and Springfield's 9th annual PorchFest on Saturday - are ready to give residents activities to do with the entire family. The following is a guide with everything you need to know about PorchFest.
What: Jacksonville PorchFest 2023
When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, from noon to 8 p.m.
Where: In the Northwest Quadrant of Historic Springfield (between Main Street and Perry Street, 8th Street and 10th Street)
What to know before you go:
What is PorchFest?
- PorchFest is a music festival that takes place annually on the first Saturday in November. During the afternoon, dozens of bands perform on porches throughout the Springfield neighborhood. Food trucks are "plentiful" and a variety of craft beer and wine is available for purchase, according to the event's website. Proceeds of PorchFest support arts-related activities in Jacksonville’s Urban Core.
What is the admission fee?
- PorchFest is a free, family and dog-friendly event. Although it is free, PorchFest offers VIP tickets as you can learn what VIP tickets include and purchase them here.
Is PorchFest walkable?
- According to the event's website, the route for PorchFest is "only a few blocks long," as the streets where bands are performing are closed
What should I bring with me?
- PorchFest encourages people to bring folding chairs and blankets for seating in front of porches, cash, credit card(s) or both for food and merchandise purchases and a leash for your pet(s)
Is alcohol allowed? If so, where can I buy drinks?
- PorchFest is an event permitted by the city of Jacksonville, according to its website. The festival has obtained all the necessary licenses to sell alcohol within the festival area. You may consume alcohol in package and plastic cups within the road closures. Anyone consuming alcoholic beverages is required to wear an official PorchFest wristband in which are made available after ID check at beverage tents throughout the festival area.
- Please note: The city of Jacksonville prohibits any outside alcohol (not purchased from official PorchFest vendors) within the festival area
Where are restrooms located within the festival area?
- There are five restrooms located throughout the festival area. They are located at the intersection of 8th and Laura streets, near the intersection of 8th and Pearl streets, one is located near where Mariachi Primera Costa will perform at 1913 North Pearl St., another is located at the intersection of Laura Street and Cottage Avenue and the last one can be found near the intersection of Silver and 10th streets.
What if I lose something?
- Found items may be delivered to PorchFest's 'Welcome Tent' location at 8th and Pearl streets, according to the event's website
Parking
Parking is available at the following three locations for PorchFest attendees, as one of the locations features a shuttle service:
- Bethel Church located at 215 Bethel Baptist St.
- Florida Department of Health located at 1214 North Pearl St.
- FSCJ Downtown Campus located at 101 West State St. (with shuttle service). According to parking rules on the event's website, attendees who choose to park at FSCJ, are required to park in student parking lots 3, 4, 5 or 6. The parking lots are located behind the auditorium on the campus. The shuttle service will run from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will offer pick-up at Bethel Baptist Street, between Bethel Church and FSCJ Downtown Campus. The shuttle service will drop attendees off at the Welcome Tent at 8th and Pearl streets.
What bands/musicians are performing?
- 23 bands/musicians will be performing at PorchFest but, each of them will be performing within their own time slots for the event. New Orleans-based funk band Water Seed is the headliner for the event and will be performing at the main stage in the festival area from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Click here to see the full schedule for the performances.
