What is Carmel PorchFest Inc.?
Carmel PorchFest Inc. hosts a series of events throughout the year, including three Late Night on Main events and Carmel PorchFest. Visit the Event Schedule page for more information on all our events.
Carmel PorchFest began as a grass roots opportunity to bring the community together and feature local music, along with showcasing the new homes in the Arts & Design District neighborhood. The event is free, family-friendly and offers a variety of musical acts that is sure to please everyone with plenty of food and beverage vendors are available. This makes for the perfect fall festival.
We host close to 60 bands on approximately 20 porches, giving local bands the opportunity shine. Between 10,000 – 15,000 people are expected to attend Carmel PorchFest each September.
Our mission is to create a vibrant series of events that bring the community together through the unifying power of music. Where diverse artistry entertains the public, shared joy fosters connection, and the love of music blossoms in every generation. We enjoy giving back to the youth in the community to continue the love and growth of music.
Meet the Carmel PorchFest Board
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Josh Kirsh
President of Carmel PorchFest since 2018
A longtime resident of Carmel and father of Holden (aka Duke) one of the coolest kids in town, Josh was named OneZones Volunteer of the Year in 2021 for his volunteer efforts with organizations such as CarmelFest, Christkindlemarkt, Artomobilia, Bike Carmel and of course Carmel PorchFest, Inc.
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Sondra Schwieterman
Executive Director
Sondra is the glue that holds the team together, organizing the chaos into manageable projects. Sondra is a wife and mother, as well as the owner of Sweet Event Planning. Sondra is a freelance Event Planner for many of the events that take place in Carmel. Nearest and dearest to her heart is Carmel PorchFest. She has been a part of the team since 2018 and has gone from planning one event to five, along with booking the entertainment at our other subsequent events.
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Liz Yust
Treasurer of Carmel PorchFest
Liz is a wife and mother of three wild hooligans (ages 3, 6 and 9). Volunteering her time as Carmel PorchFest Inc. Treasurer since 2018, she makes sure the bills get paid on time and ensures we’re being smart with our money to reinvest back to the community with more music-filled events. She works at Engage Mentoring, a leadership and employee development company, as their Regional Sales Director.
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Joe Barnes
Vice President
Joe is a husband and father of two, as well as a ten year Carmel resident. His passion for philanthropy led him to getting involved in the most impactful event in town. Beginning as a ROADIE volunteer in 2018, Joe has more recently transitioned to organizing the sponsorship committee, using his Architectural Project Management and Business Development skills from his day job at RATIO Design.
Did you know PorchFest is a nationwide event?
The first PorchFest was held in Ithaca, New York in 2007 and has grown every year since. It began as a grass roots opportunity to bring the community together and showcase local musical talent in a casual setting.
Since it’s beginnings in Ithaca, PorchFest has expanded to cities all across the United States, with Carmel joining the ranks in 2014.