See more of Bluffton's PorchFest 2024 at https://www.facebook.com/groups/803190574977428

By Benji Bergstrand

On August 31 the sounds of rock, funk, jazz, rap and more rang out through the neighborhoods of Bluffton as the 1st annual PorchFest kicked off. The event was Bluffton’s version of a worldwide celebration of music--Play Music on the Porch Day--that is held on the last Saturday in August in over 70 countries and more than 1,000 cities across the globe.

Bluffton’s PorchFest featured 15 different musical groups playing a wide variety of music at 12 different locations around town. 

Bluffton resident Eric Reneker had the idea to bring an event like this to Bluffton after attending similar ones around Ohio. “I think I posed the initial question on the Bluffton Buzz sometime about February of 2024,” Reneker said. “It was just a simple ‘Does anyone think we could pull off a summer music festival?’ with a basic explanation of the events in Akron, Yellow Springs and Bowling Green that I had attended.” 

That simple question was answered with a resounding yes. Though Reneker didn’t have hard data on the number of attendees, he thinks the number was close to 500. “I had several locations report close to 80 spectators, but it’s hard to say because people moved from venue to venue,” Reneker said. Danielle Althaus, who hosted 2 bands with her husband Andy, estimated close to 100 attendees at their peak.

For Althaus, hosting brought with it some nerves that were quickly dispelled once the event started. “I kept thinking about logistics like homeowner’s insurance, which was not a necessary concern, and whether the yard is fit for public viewing! But once the day came and I realized that we were really only a venue and not a host per se, I allowed myself to have fun!” Althaus said. “We had my sister-in-law (Samantha Garrett) here with some of her Twisted Whisk drinks and treats. We made a band-themed menu, which I think people enjoyed, and on that very hot day I was happy to have refreshments available.”

Nancy Corle-Agner hosted musicians with her husband Jonah Agner in front of their Vine Street restaurant, Greenhorn. “We were excited to host both to make it more convenient to see and hear more performances and because we are really excited about seeing more community mixing and engagement in the downtown,” Corle-Agner said. 

Nancy also had a positive Porch Fest experience as a performer with her group Nancy and Friends. “The audience was receptive to all sorts of genres. It was a really fun time, and they left really sweet chalk art all down our sidewalks!”

Andy Marquart made his way to several different PorchFest locations over the course of the day. “I visited three different spots and saw four different bands,” Marquart said. “Each had its own different feeling but all had plenty of seating room and the iced coffee in the afternoon was a huge bonus.”

Marquart is already thinking about next year’s PorchFest. “I absolutely plan to go again next year,” Marquart said. “I have already talked to several people from Bluffton and some from out of town and we plan to attend even more next year.”

Fortunately for PorchFest fans, Eric Reneker is also thinking about next year and how the event can be even better. “I want to condense the area to a neighborhood moving forward and still have stuff uptown,” Reneker said. “The neighborhoods will change each year. Next year we will be setting up on the east side of town. College Ave, Cherry and Elm Street from the tracks to County Line Rd. The event will be the last Saturday in August, and I would like to have at least four groups performing each hour. And about 15 hosts including uptown stages.”

For more information about next year’s event or to see videos of performances from Porch Fest this year visit the Porch Fest, Bluffton OH Facebook.

I have felt for years that Bluffton needed to have an event that would showcase our talented community,” Reneker said. “I decided that if that was going to happen, that I might as well take the reins.”