April 4–6, 2025
Springing the Blues
November 9, 2024 Jacksonville PorchFest returns! This music festival is held on the welcoming front porches of Historic Springfield.
Jacksonville PorchFest is a family-friendly, free event featuring musicians from a wide variety of genres and draws over 10,000 people to the neighborhood. The ninth annual Jacksonville PorchFest will have food and art vendors, over 20 bands and performing artists will be playing from 12pm - 8pm in the Northwest Quadrant of Historic Springfield (between Main Street and Perry Street, 8th Street and 10th Street). PorchFest brings important attention to Springfield’s historic architecture and ongoing revitalization and highlights the breadth of musical talent in Jacksonville. Proceeds from the festival support public arts in Jacksonville’s Urban Core.
As a Springfield native, Mama Blue has seen the area change and grow over the years. For her, PorchFest is when we get to celebrate our growth, spotlight the community, reconnect with veteran attendees & welcome new festival goers.“The culture here is deep, diverse, rich, and vibrant, even in it's old age! Our Springfield is a beautiful garden with seeds, clippings, and transplants from all over. Seeing how PorchFest has grown and flourished here, there is no question that Springfield is somethin' really special. Her people, constant gardeners, sowing and harvesting seeds of love, kindness, tolerance, kinship, acceptance, and gratitude,” she explains.
For those who have never been to PorchFest, Mama Blue says “no words give justice to the experience, but one thing is for sure: you’ll be fed. Food for thought, food for soul, and the vendors will definitely make you whole, with tasty treats and liquid libations! No doubt, you'll leave so happy that you came!"“It's an experience you’ve never had, if you’ve never been. When I tell you there’s love, community, camaraderie, respect, friendship (and did I say love?) here since this festival began, I feel like I’ve never met a stranger! You just have to come, I promise you’ll LOVE IT!”
To find Mama Blue’s music, visit her website at www.mamabluesings.com.