Porchfest making debut in historic Spartanburg neighborhood

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A unique music festival is coming to Spartanburg, where some residents won’t have to leave home to enjoy it.

The festival has southern charm and history; that’s the way Jennie Gilbert describes her neighborhood, Hampton Heights Historic District.

“We are a locally and nationally recognized historic district, actually Spartanburg’s oldest neighborhood, so our houses date back to the late 1800’s,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert added that she wants to jazz up one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city with a “porch festival.”

“We are super excited to bring Porchfest to Spartanburg. Porchfest is nationally recognized music festival, typically in historic districts, So, our friends in Greenville have been doing theirs in Hampton-Pinckney for quite a few years but this will be the first time that it is in Spartanburg,” Gilbert said.

Porchfest takes place on September 15th on West Hampton Avenue starting at 1 p.m.

There will be different bands playing music on six porches along West Hampton Avenue and the event is open to the whole community.

“Our neighborhood is really something to be proud of and unfortunately most people in Spartanburg, if you ask them they don’t know where Hampton Heights is or never even heard of us so we are really trying to change that, bring people to our neighborhood.” Gilbert added. “To watch really amazing local and regional bands up on our big porches, where they can drink local beer, wine cocktails and have local food.”

Gilbert said that in a growing community, sometimes it’s refreshing to sit back and marvel at the history.

“With so much progress and change coming to Spartanburg a lot of times old places can be pushed to the side for new modern developments and we feel that these homes tell the story of Spartanburg and we hope that when people come to porch fest they will look at this and say ‘wow’ old places are really worth saving and preserving,” Gilbert added.

Gilbert said the event is free to attend but there will be food, drinks and even some t-shirts for sale. The proceeds will support beautification projects, such as planting trees and adding new street signs to the community.

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