Ol Front Porch Music Festival

TYPICALLY, THE FESTIVAL IS TWO DAYS OF LIVE MUSIC ON THE FRONT PORCHES OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES AROUND THE TOWN OF ORIENTAL (POPULATION 900) AND A MAIN STAGE ON THE RIVERFRONT ATTRACTING CROWDS OF 3,000 OR MORE. TYPICALLY, VOLUNTEERS NUMBER OVER 160 INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR ROTC PROGRAM, MORE THAN A DOZEN VILLAGE MARKET VENDORS, A DOZEN FOOD PARK ENTRIES FROM LOCAL NON-PROFITS FOR A TOTAL EXCEEDING 3,200 PARTICIPANTS. OUR 8TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL, HOWEVER, WAS AT RISK OF CANCELLATION DUE TO THE APPROACH OF HURRICANE IAN. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE TOWN, THE WOMAN'S CLUB, THE OLD THEATER AND LOCAL CHURCHES, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WENT FORWARD WITH HOLDING THE FESTIVAL WHICH OPENED IN TORRENTIAL RAIN AND WIND WITH ALL PERFORMANCES, INFORMATION BOOTH, VILLAGE MARKET, AND FOOD PARK MOVED INDOORS. NOW A TROPICAL STORM THROUGHOUT THE CAROLINAS AND VIRGINIA, HURRICANE IAN KEPT MANY ATTENDEES AND VENDORS AT HOME, BUT SEVERAL HUNDRED HARDY SOULS BRAVED THE STORM. ALL BUT ONE OF THE 25 PERFORMERS AND GROUPS WERE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO ORIENTAL, A DIVERSE MIX OF RACE, ETHNICITY AND MUSICAL GENRES INCLUDING A BLUEGRASS BAND FROM NORWAY. THE WEATHER IMPROVED FOR A SUNNY DAY TWO AS DID THE CROWD NUMBERS, VILLAGE MARKET VENDORS AND FOOD PARK OPTIONS. ONCE AGAIN, A WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE EVENT. AND, AS ALWAYS, FREE TO THE PUBLIC.