Culture
A guide: Athens Porchfest 2026
By: WOUB Culture Team
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Athens Porchfest returns this weekend with live music, local art, food vendors, and community events spread across neighborhoods and businesses throughout the city.
The annual event will feature performances from dozens of local and regional artists on porches, sidewalks, storefronts, parks, and outdoor stages on both Athens’ Westside and Near Eastside. This year’s festivities also include a John Prine tribute kickoff event at the Athena Cinema, art markets, family activities, food truck gatherings, and late-night performances at local venues.
Find more information on the event on the Athens Porchfest website.
WOUB Culture has compiled a schedule and festival guide for the weekend’s events. Find it below.
Friday, May 15 – John Prine Tribute Kickoff Event
Athena Cinema — 20 S. Court St.
Admission: $8
Live Music – 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
•6 p.m. — Jeanie Thieken
•6:15 p.m. — Rusty Smith
•6:30 p.m. — Bob Stewart
•6:45 p.m. — Steve Zarate
7 p.m. – Film Screening: You Got Gold (A John Prine Tribute)
2022 tribute concert film featuring performances by Tyler Childers, Bob Weir, Lucinda Williams, and more.
Saturday, May 16 – Westside Porchfest
12 p.m.
• CEO Speedwagon — StewMac, 21 N. Shafer St.
• Bruce Dalzell Songwriting Group — 73 Central Ave.
1 p.m.
• Chris Hager — 55 Central Ave.
• Bigfoot Hunting Hookup Party — 19 Raymond Dr.
• The Insect — 75 Mary St.
• The Brickersons & Scottish Dance — West End Manufacturing Facility, 3 N. Shafer St.
•Ric Wasserman — 48 N. Shafer St.
2 p.m.
• The D-Rays — StewMac, 21 N. Shafer St.
• Disc Golf Demo — West End Manufacturing Facility, 3 N. Shafer St.
• Cory Love — 7 Rardin Dr.
• Halberd — 79 Central Ave.
• 1333 — 81 Mary St.
3 p.m.
•Swing Big — West End Manufacturing Facility, 3 N. Shafer St.
•Project Ruori — 7 Brown Ave.
•Loaner — 100 Central Ave.
•Unmonumental — 89 2nd St.
4 p.m.
•Hellnaw — StewMac, 21 N. Shafer St.
•Noble Blues — 50 Central Ave.
•Tiny Animals — 4 Elizabeth Dr.
•Jim Pilgrim — 133 2nd St.
5 p.m.
•Rabblerouzer — West End Ciderhouse, 234 W. Washington St.
•Sub Zero — West End Manufacturing Facility, 3 N. Shafer St.
•Dune — 6 W. Hills Dr.
•Colby Woodson & Friends — West State Street Stage
5:30 p.m.
•Jone & The Hissyfits — ArtsWest, 132 W. State St.
6 p.m.
•The Gatherers — The Gathering Place, 7 N. Congress St.
•The Brokedown Ramblers — Armory Park
•Dandelion Drive — Passion Works, 20 E. State St.
6:30 p.m.
•Brandon Jackson — Blue Eagle Music, 40 N. Court St.
7 p.m.
•Cuni — Donkey Coffee, 17½ W. Washington St.
•Jorma Kaukonen — River of Time Boutique, 19 W. Washington St.
•Woodchuck Hunters — Athens Armory Steps
•Greg O’Brien & The Spoodoo Cadillacs — West State Street Stage
7:30 p.m.
•Zest the Orange — Star Chamber Arcade, 74 N. Court St.
8 p.m.
•Sisterhood of the Sappy Souls — Hot Box Chicken and Tots, 74 N. Court St.
•Chris Tomazic — O’Betty’s Red Hot, 15 W. State St.
8:30 p.m.
•Willow Jayne & the Lazy Day — Big Run Kava Bar, 72 N. Court St.
•Good Question String Band — In front of Tony’s, 7 W. State St.
Porch Fest After Hours happens Saturday night at The Side Bar and Casa Nueva. $5 wristband grants entry to both venues.
9 p.m.
•Captain Chucke & The Cadillac South — The Side Bar (Porchfest After Hours)
•Rylee Bapst — Red Brick Tavern, 14 N. Court St.
•Paula & The Reefer Dogs — West State Street Stage
10 p.m.
•The Tailwinds — Casa Nueva (Porchfest After Hours)
•Landon Ross — The Side Bar (Porchfest After Hours)
11 p.m.
•Kiss Me Deadly — Casa Nueva (Porchfest After Hours)
•Appalachian Soup Company — The Side Bar (Porchfest After Hours)
12 a.m.
•Brick Soul Band — Casa Nueva (Porchfest After Hours)
Additional Saturday Festival Info
Food Trucks: 12 p.m. –6 p.m.
•Crepe & Croque – Sweet and savory crepes and other seasonal French-style eats
•Stoopid Polak Concessions (aka C-R Dogs Concessions) – Handmade pierogis, beef-hotdogs, bison-pork cheddar kielbasa, pretzels & cheese, and cold soda-pop
•Mister Softee Ice Cream of Athens – Serving soft serve ice cream products
Arkinglot Art Vendor Fair
StewMac Parking Lot — 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Family Activities
Crafty Art Bus
Sojourner’s Parking Lot — 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday, May 17 – Near Eastside Porchfest
11 a.m.
•?Brightside — Athens Impact Investing/Village Bakery, 264 E. State St.
12 p.m.
•Larry Elefante — Kiser’s Barbecue, 355 E. State St.
•Melanie Tullett — 17/19 Elmwood Place
1 p.m.
•Emily Singer & The Heartbeats — 89/91 S. May Ave.
•Bookends — 22 Ohio Ave.
•Walk the Ridge — 40 Maplewood Dr.
•Athens Noise Project — 234 E. State St.
•Soultonic — 32 Lorene Ave.
•Kim Kaler — 66 Morris Ave.
•Stenosis — 11 Woodside Dr.
•Rosewell — Kindred Market, 284 E. State St.
•Nolan Collins & The Raccoon Wranglers — Athens Impact Investing/Village Bakery/DellaZona
2 p.m.
•Levi Merrill — 29 Maplewood Dr.
•Summer Formal — Athens Uptown Realty, 280 E. State St.
•Baker 10 Trio — Athens Hot Glass, 21 Kern St.
•Swanpalace — 74 Elmwood Place
•The Free Range Pickers — 209 E. State St.
•Sean Parsons — KidZone/Hughes Funeral Home, 168 Morris Ave.
•Ted Harris Quartet — 88 S. Mary Ave.
•Disc Golf Demo — Athens Public Library
•Becca & Michael Lachman — 66 Morris Ave.
•Colin Richards — 68 Maplewood Dr.
•Drawknife — 124 Morris Ave.
•Jerrod Goggans & Thomas Adams — Kindred Market
3 p.m.
•The Victorious Kaybirds — 89/91 S. May Ave.
•Ah the World — Kindred Market
•Rylee Bapst Band — 3 N. May Ave.
•New Athens County Plowboys — Athens Impact Investing/Village Bakery/DellaZona
•Chris Michael & The Andrews — 110 Morris Ave.
•Fine Business — 73 Maplewood Dr.
•Bernie Nau Quartet — 34 Elmwood Place
•Mudfork Blues — 82 Elmwood Place
•Hi Helen — Blackout Booking Stage, 187 E. State St.
•Albert Rouzie — 66 Morris Ave.
4 p.m.
•Micah Kesselring — Bobcat Bikes, 4 W. Stimson St.
•Country Drip — 293 E. State St.
•Back Porch Swing Band — 35 Lorene Ave.
•Heather Redman & The Reputation — Blackout Booking Stage
•Infernal Objects — 68 Hudson Ave.
•Celtic Session Players — 3 Watt St.
•Steve Zarate — 63 Elmwood Place
•Ready Aim Flowers — 83 Maplewood Dr.
•The Peel — 17/19 Elmwood Place
•Athens Jazz Stompers — 50 Sunnyside Dr.
•Hellbender Jazz Organ Trio — 64 Morris Ave.
•The Ames-Bern Ridge Rounders — 209 E. State St.
5 p.m.
•Renee Stewart Band — Jackie O’s Taproom, 25 Campbell St.
•Without Papers — Athens Hot Glass
•The Holes — 101 May Ave.
•American Engine — Rise & Grind, 23 E. Stimson Ave.
•Myron Hart with Nick Dzuban — 60 S. Shannon Ave.
•Caitlin Kraus Band — 66 Elmwood Place
•Ugata Drums — 17/19 Elmwood Place
•Jean P the MC — 23 Ohio Ave.
6 p.m.
•Jorma Kaukonen with John Hurlbut — 60 S. Shannon Ave.
•The New Marshfields — 50 Sunnyside Dr.
6:30 p.m.
•Beer Choir — 3 Watt St.
7 p.m.
•Mdou Moctar — Jackie O’s Taproom, 25 Campbell St.
8:30 p.m.
•The Wild Honeybees — Jackie O’s Taproom, 25 Campbell St.
Additional Sunday Festival Info
Food Trucks
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Food Truck Rodeo (Red Cross Athens — 100 S. May Ave.)
•Tasty Indonesia – chicken satay, fried noodles, and rice dishes
•Cheesy Weenie Dogs – Specialty hot dog food truck with a variety of styles of hot dogs and more
•Rhythm & Food – specialty grilled cheeses and sandwiches
•Root 56 Farm – locally grown/made peppers and locally produced hot sauces
•Sol Flour Sweets – cookies and treats
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Food Trucks at Merchants National Bank (20 East Stimson Avenue)
•A-Town Pies and Fries – pizza, loaded fries, pretzel bites
•Asian Fusion Cuisine – dumplings, noodles, spring rolls, etc.
Art Market
Kindred Porchfest Art Market
Kindred Market Parking Lot — 12 p.m.–4 p.m.
Local Business Partners
10 a.m. – 10 p.m. – Athens Hot Glass – glass blowing demonstrations, lessons, glass art gallery
12 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Bobcat Bikes, 4 W. Stimson – bike sales, repairs, parts and accessories
KidZone (Hughes Funeral Home, 168 Morris Ave)
1-6 p.m. Crafty Art Bus
1-3 p.m. Kona Ice of Athens