Armory Park appears to have started a trend.
On Sunday, the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood will hold its inaugural porch fest, a musical celebration inspired by the porch fest thrown by Armory Park in June.
The free event will feature 26 acts performing on 13 porches throughout the neighborhood, a swath of midtown that bumps against the West University neighborhood to the east and Barrio Anita to the west, East Speedway to the north and St. Mary’s Road to the south.
Visitors are invited to bike or walk from porch-to-porch to enjoy the different bands. Many of the artists playing have homes in the area. Others are stopping in for the show.
The Determined Luddites, Combo Westside, Tom Walbank, Mitzi Cowell and Gila Bend are among the scheduled performers.
“We have a waiting list just in case any drop out,” said Karen Greene, an organizer for the event. “There has been a lot of interest.”
Greene said members of the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood association attended the Armory Park porch fest over the summer and were impressed with what they saw, which is why the association is holding its own festival.
Greene enjoyed the sense of community.
“It is a big block party with people you don’t expect to see there,” she said. “A neighborhood event with people attending from outside of the neighborhood.”
Maps pointing out different stages will be provided at each home; at the Whistle Stop Depot, 127 W. Fifth St.; and at the community garden at North 11th Avenue and West University Boulevard.
The porch fest is being held in conjunction with a mesquite milling event, held annually in Dunbar/Spring.
Greene said it made sense to dovetail the two happenings.
“We were already bringing folks in for the mesquite milling,” she added. “We thought it would make more sense to team up. People could hang out here all day if they wanted.”
The mesquite milling activities run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with various fees attached to different activities. Porch fest runs from 3 to 5 p.m.
In addition, there will be a mesquite pancake brunch at 11 a.m., food trucks and a walking tour of the neighborhood’s public art.
Greene said the day is all about sharing the Dunbar/Spring community with the rest of Tucson.
Organizers hope it will inspire others.
“We want people to feel like we felt after Armory Park,” Greene said. “That they can do this in their own neighborhoods.”
