Porchfest, which started about an hour from me in Ithaca, New York, is now an annual event in over 130 cities and towns in the United States and elsewhere.
Binghamton, New York held its fifth Porchfest on Sunday.
I've come into this area each year to enjoy the music - spouse and I exercise walk here so it was a natural thing to do. It seemed this year, people really wanted to extend a welcome to others. Not that previous years were unfriendly but there was a different vibe this year.
I was there early enough to see this family setting up because we wanted to hear the musicians next door to them. This is what I saw:
First came several chairs with signs inviting people to sit on them. Not everyone brings folding chairs - you sometimes have to park some distance away.
Then came a table. After the table was unfolded came two trays of food: spicy potato samosas with veggies, a large cooler of cold water, bags of Chip Ahoy cookies for the "kiddos", and a sign announcing they were "free".
One middle aged woman headed to a chair and sat. Soon, two little girls from the house approached her with a dandelion, and offered the flower to her. The woman smiled, took the flower, and talked to the girls for a few minutes.
What a contrast to the hate others have shown in the past months in various communities. Perhaps this is because our community has experienced its own mass shooting (in 2009). Or one of several floods (such as the one in September of 2011). Or maybe it's because more of us than we may think are trying to turn away hate.
Porchfest is all about bringing communities together, and thousands of people turned out to enjoy a day of music.
There are other ways to fight hate, like this religious congregation in Virginia has done.
Big or small, each step counts.
Perhaps, that is the true power of being a neighbor. Offering some hospitality to visitors - your lawn, a drink of water, a place to sit for a few minutes.
We live in a world where we don’t always know our neighbors. It’s good to see a community coming together in good times.
ReplyDeleteIt is. I hope the movement will spread. It's perfect for historic neighborhoods with large porches but anywhere would work.
DeleteI was more impressed that you drive an hour to get some exercise!
ReplyDeleteJust some mangled English. Ithaca, where Porchfest started, is an hour from me. Binghamton's Porchfest is perhaps eight minutes from where I live. The neighborhood, the historic Abel Bennett tract (named after the first mayor of Binghamton) is on the way home from my job so that's why spouse and I walk there.
DeleteWe have a similar event called National Night Out. Its about taking back our streets. I like the sound of porchfest - sounds cozy and friendly.
ReplyDeleteTry again. Perhaps one day, a Porchfest will come to a town near you. We have National Night Out but I haven't participated in many, many years.
DeleteYes, now more than ever, each step counts and each time a child sees positive roll models, the better the chance that the future could be brighter than it's currently looking.
ReplyDeleteYou've written about this before. It sounds like so much fun. I wish we had something like that locally.
ReplyDeleteDamn the one thing I look forward to when I get old is to tell strangers to get off my lawn.
ReplyDelete