'A day of hospitality and welcoming.' PorchRokr shines on sunny day in Akron

Highland Square was transformed Saturday into a bustling hub of art and music.

It was the 11th return of "Akron's best holiday" — PorchRokr. Throughout the day, a diverse range of live music filled the air, broadcast from front porches. Close to 150 bands played throughout the day, capped off with a performance by headliner Detention.

Eighty-eight vendors like Akron Soul Train and Gad Boy Art were plying their wares. Food trucks, stands and restaurants — including Totally Baked Pizza and the Pierogi Lady — provided hungry concertgoers with fuel to keep them going. A beer garden on Beck Avenue was serving up on-tap libations from Cincinnati-based Rhinegeist.

PorchRokr 2023: The ultimate guide to Akron's festival in Highland Square

From 11:30 to 8 p.m., Curated Storefront hosted a live mural-making on the side of a shipping container by Florida artists Palehorse — brothers Christopher and Matthew Parks — Joshua Hall (aka Baghead) and Diana Paz.By the time the music started, the festival had already been underway for a couple hours. A PorchRoker 5K was held at 8 a.m., and Yoga Squared held a class on the main stage at 9:30 a.m.

Throngs of people moved up and down Market Street in the gorgeous summer sun, snaking in and out of Highland Square's plethora of neighborhoods.

'A sense of warmth and closure'

Kenneth Averiett's day started at 7 a.m. Averiett has been involved with PorchRokr more or less since its inception. Throughout the year, he listens to every band that applies to perform, collaborating with musicians, bars and homeowners to create a schedule for the year's festival, as well as organizing volunteers.

Shortly before the music began at 11 a.m., Averiett was cruising around in a golf cart. Things had been relatively hassle free so far, he said. After 11 years, PorchRokr has its own momentum.

"Everything is way easier, and at this point it's second nature," Averiett said. "My favorite part is, normally my friends that play in bands, they usually play in bars or houses, but all my friends who are parents can never bring their kids to shows. Seeing my friends bring their children, dancing to hardcore punk in the front yard at like 2 in the afternoon is heartwarming. That feeling is why I keep doing this."

His biggest passion, he said, is bringing people together.

"It's a sense of warmth and closure, that feeling you get when people talk about community," he said, with PorchRokr being a tangible expression of that sense of fellowship.

The Mickeys draw a crowd

At 73 Beck Ave., Celtic rock band The Mickeys had just started their set from the front porch, a crowd of listeners across the street in the shade. Next door, a little girl had set up a popsicle stand.

Jim and Beth Lada were standing a bit away from the crowd as the sound of a tin whistle washed over the street. Beth said they were there to hear everyone, and Jim said he was specifically looking forward to hearing TRUSS from Cleveland. This wasn't their first foray into the world of PorchRokr, but this year, Jim said, all the other bands were new to them.

"It changes up every year, and that's what's fun about it," Beth said. "There's always something different. It's one of the best street parties you can go to around here."

Kris Barnette stood behind the table serving at the bar in the beer garden. Barnette has volunteered for the past two years. He said that it feels like things are more organized this year, commenting on how cooperative the weather was. A few people had already come past the beer tent for their "breakfast beer" he said. Barnette planned on sneaking away to see a couple bands including noise rock band Information, and Dave Rich and His Enablers.

"I'm very excited about Detention, the headliners," Barnette said. "They're like a Vans Warped Tour band."

Spirit of PorchRokr grows

Outside the beer garden Katie Carver Reed, president of the Highland Square Neighborhood Association, and Anita Marron — one of the founders of PorchRokr — suddenly appeared from nowhere, both percolating with an optimistic energy emblematic of the day.

Marron said she was most looking forward to, "A super happy, respectful, genuine PorchRokr Day."

"It's a really special community day," Carver Reed said. She's been seeing people who didn't sign up to volunteer ask how they can help. Some lend a hand to strangers to the neighborhood, offering directions and advice on where to park.

"I see bands showing up and supporting other bands, which is always really cool, too. I think there's just a general spirit of support and camaraderie. It's a day of hospitality and welcoming," said Carver Reed.

The notion of community came up again and again. Casey Ha, front man of the band Lady Lyre, said it was the best part of PorchRokr.

"I think PorchRokr brings around pretty much everybody from the most professional musicians there are in the area, to kids who play in their backyards. I think that's the cool part, everybody feels included," Ha said. "Everybody feels special and included, and nobody feels left out or under or anything — that's the neat part.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Community spirit on display at Akron's PorchRokr