Tips for first-timers on navigating Modesto Porchfest. Also, a big change coming

It’s one of the most popular community events in Modesto. It also can be a bit overwhelming if it’s your first time.

Modesto Porchfest, the massive celebration of local music, returns from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday to the La Loma, College and downtown neighborhoods.

Residents there host artists by setting up stages on their front-yard patios, lawns or driveways.

There will be 150 bands or artists playing on stages outside 93 homes this year. That’s a lot of music and a lot of homes to navigate — and to choose which you want to see.

And the crowd is always huge.

But it doesn’t have to be daunting if you plan ahead and know a few dos and don’ts, according to organizers. We’ll run down some tips below.

But first, there’s about to be a big change to the event. The trio who founded Modesto Porchfest in 2017 — Kate Trompetter, Ruhi Sheikh and Tricia Rosenow — have decided to hand it over to a new crew, according to Trompetter.

“When we started Modesto Porchfest nine years ago, we were in a very different season of life,” Trompetter said in an email interview in which she also spoke on behalf of Sheikh and Rosenow. “Like most people, we’ve changed over the years — our lives, priorities, capacities, and the ways we want to contribute to community have evolved. It simply feels like the right time for a new chapter, for the three of us and for Porchfest.”

The event also “has grown far beyond the three of us,” she said. “That was always the hope. Porchfest was never meant to belong to its founders. It was meant to belong to the community.”

The trio could have “simply stopped organizing it and let it end with us, but that never felt right,” she said.

Trompetter said they are grateful “to the musicians, neighbors, volunteers, sponsors, porch hosts, local businesses and everyone who said yes to this strange and beautiful idea over the years.”

Five community members have stepped in, using this year as a learning opportunity: Katie Barber, Jarod Smith, Katie Trausch, Brian Krosnick and Brett Weitl.

“They genuinely care about the spirit of Porchfest and are excited to help it continue growing,” Trompetter said. Also helping this year is sponsor Modesto Neighborhoods Inc.

Trompetter said the co-founders will step away completely after this year and allow the new leadership team “the space to make Porchfest their own. We don’t want to hover over it or make the transition about us.”

A first-timer’s guide

One of the new organizers, Jarod Smith, participated in an email interview to offer an early lay of the land for those who never have attended.

“The success of this event depends on everyone,” he said. “Porch hosts, musicians, attendees, neighbors, all treating this event as if it were theirs, because it is.”

Here’s a rundown on what to expect, edited from the questions and Smith’s answers:

What should a first-time Porchfest-goer know? It’s a free-to-attend celebration of local music artists and community. It’s self-guided, with no schedule to follow.

The band and artist lineup is available on the Porchfest website, www.modestoporchfest.com, and you can wander freely.

Should people take sunscreen, water bottles, chairs and/or blankets? Definitely. Not all locations will have enough space for blankets or chairs, but many will. If crowd grows at a location, please do not block streets from traffic flow.

Which neighborhood will have the most stages? The majority of bands will be in and around the College and La Loma neighborhoods. A map on the website shows the boundaries of where bands will perform.

What should people driving vehicles know? Vehicle drivers will see much heavier pedestrian traffic and bike traffic within the map boundaries. Organizers highly recommend parking outside the Porchfest boundaries and walking or biking in for the shows.

While porches won’t be on main streets, the event does draw many people, so there will be congestion on some streets within the boundaries.

Where should people park outside the boundaries? Near the College neighborhood, you can park in the Modesto Junior College lot at the corner of College and Coldwell avenues. In downtown, street parking and parking garages are available.

Is it best to bike or walk the neighborhoods? You will see a large number of both pedestrians and bikers. Whatever you’re more comfortable doing is the right choice for you.

What should people expect when they arrive? Lots of music, friendly crowds, and more bikes present than any other day in Modesto.

Is there a good place to start listening? The lineup where each musician is playing, along with their genres, is listed on our website. Start wherever you want!

When should people print out the performance guide? We will continue to make edits to the lineup until the event starts on the website. If you print, do it the morning of Porchfest.

What kind of music will people hear? From country to mariachi, jazz to ska, and from rock to DJs, there will be a bit of something for everyone.

What can people expect from homeowners hosting stages? The only thing we ask our wonderful hosts to do is open up their porches, lawns or driveway to musicians. Some hosts offer refreshments, organize food trucks or other similar offerings. These are fully at the discretion of the hosts.

Porchfest places some porta potties around the city for attendees to use. Public restrooms at parks will also be open. Please do not ask hosts to use their restrooms. Locations of porta potties are marked on the map.

Can you address the issue of people driving golf carts? Porchfest is a community-focused, community-run and community-owned event. Everyone who attends is responsible for ensuring they’re being a stand-up member of the community and following all applicable laws. We kindly, and firmly, remind everyone that we all own in the success and future of this event.

All city of Modesto ordinances apply regarding golf carts, alcohol and street/traffic safety. Porchfest can’t grant permission or make exceptions to city regulations, and enforcement decisions are ultimately up to the appropriate public agencies.

(An aside on the above: The city of Modesto website on municipal codes says it’s unlawful to operate a golf cart on any street or highway in the city unless it’s on a designated golf cart route. For more, see tinyurl.com/Mogolfcartrules.

Any more suggestions, tips or ideas for first-timers? If this is your first time, bring some cash for musician tip jars. You’re bound to find something you love, so settle in, let the day unfold and say hi to your neighbors — that’s what the day is all about.

“At the end of the day, Porchfest has always been about music, neighborhood connection, creativity and community,” Smith said in an email. “We’re grateful for everyone who helps make this event such a special part of Modesto, and we can’t wait to celebrate with all of you.”