At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, three porches on Barry Avenue start up within the same hour. Dave Jensen opens one, Andras Jones another, and classical guitarist Phil Cobb the third. On Sunday at 11, Bert Christian's saxophone starts the day on Grand View Boulevard while the Mar Vista Farmers Market is already two hours into its usual Sunday.
The two mornings belong to the same festival. Porchfest LA brings its Westside edition back to Mar Vista and Culver City on Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. It's free and run entirely by volunteers. The days still feel different, though. Saturday is a walk through residential streets with one storefront stage on Venice Boulevard. Sunday runs through the Grand View and Venice corner, where the farmers market has its own spot on the schedule. If you only have one afternoon, the day you choose shapes the festival you get.
Year two, with a real schedule this time
Porchfest LA started on the Eastside in 2024, and founder Hélène Udy's festival is now in its third year. Mar Vista and Culver City are back for a second. The Westside's first edition ran Nov. 1–2, 2025. According to Mar Vista Voice, it happened because musician and Mar Vista Music Project volunteer Mary Beth Abella brought the idea home after playing the Los Feliz and Silver Lake event. Rob Kadota, executive director of the Mar Vista Music Project, organized it.
Last year's numbers vary depending on who counted. Mar Vista Voice reported more than 120 performers across 21 porches, gardens and patios. The Argonaut counted 14 porches in Mar Vista and six in Culver City. The 2026 Westside schedule lists about 15 Mar Vista porches split across the two days, plus the farmers market on Sunday. Every porch runs on only one of the two days, which is why the split matters so much.
The schedule page on Porchfest LA's own site may still say "coming soon." Use the "Westside Schedule" link on the homepage, which goes to the live document, and the Mar Vista porch map in Google Maps.
Saturday is a street crawl, and Barry Avenue is its spine
Three of Saturday's Mar Vista porches are on Barry Avenue, more than any other street has on either day. If you'd rather stay on one block than drive between pins, this is your day.
| Saturday porch | A few acts worth timing |
|---|---|
| Barry Ave, porch one | Main Street Mirage, acoustic sea shanties, 1:40 p.m.; Klezmer Arts Institute LA, 4:05 p.m. |
| Barry Ave, porch two | MASHA, theatrical piano rock, 1 p.m.; Mary Huth, stand-up, 2:15 p.m. |
| Barry Ave, porch three | Damon Dagger, cowpunk, 12:20 p.m.; Miranda Perry, comedy, 3:40 p.m. |
| Orangewood Guitars, 12101 Venice Blvd | American Sigh, 11 a.m.; Nina Storey, 11:50 a.m.; Mary Beth Abella, 2:30 p.m. |
| Marcasel Ave | Carmen Nikae, opera and clown, 2:20 p.m. |
| East Blvd | Molly Sharpe, clown comedy, 1:40 p.m. |
| Wade St | Sidecar Belle, neo-swing ukulele, 12:40 p.m.; Sugar in the Gourd, Americana, 2:15 p.m. |
| Colby Ave | Deborah Poppink, pianist and vocalist, 4:10 p.m. |
The Orangewood Guitars stop is the only business host on Saturday's Mar Vista list. Its lineup reads like a showcase, with acts going on roughly every 50 minutes from American Sigh at 11 to Tennis on Tuesdays at 4:20. Orangewood was one of last year's supporters too, along with the farmers market and the Mar Vista Music Project. The Wade Street porch starts at noon instead of 11. If you plan a route that ends there, you get an extra hour on Barry first.
Sunday routes through the market corner
Sunday's map changes shape. The porches spread out to Indianapolis Street, Ocean View Avenue, Westminster Avenue, Kenyon Avenue, a second Wade Street porch, Grand View Boulevard and Barbara Avenue. The schedule also lists the Mar Vista Farmers Market as a stop. The market sponsors this year's Westside edition. The schedule lists it at 12198 Venice Blvd, open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring The Superbroke Brass and Tin and Strings Electric Marching Band Ensemble. No set time is posted for the band. The market's own site puts it at Grand View and Venice, rain or shine.
The overlap gives Sunday its structure. Porchfest's FAQ says neither the festival nor its hosts can sell anything, and hosts don't have to open their bathrooms. The FAQ suggests looking for nearby restaurants and cafes instead. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the market is the obvious place to eat and regroup, and it's on the same boulevard as one of the day's strongest porch lineups.
That Grand View Boulevard porch runs all day. Bert Christian plays jazz saxophone at 11, The Mafé Ensemble brings Afro-soul rock at 2:25, Mary Beth Abella plays at 3:45, and Nina Storey closes at 4:25. The Barbara Avenue porch is co-hosted by Mar Vista Voice, the neighborhood news outlet. It runs half-hour sets from Captain Danger at 11 through Donut, a loud '90s Hole cover band, at 3:40. Mar Vista Voice's own events page lists "PorchFest Mar Vista" for Oct. 25 only, so expect Sunday to be the day it promotes most.
Here's one way to build a Sunday around the corner:
- 11 a.m. Start at the Grand View porch for Bert Christian's opening set.
- Late morning Walk over to the market while it's open, get lunch, and catch the marching band if it's playing.
- 1:15 p.m. Head to the Wade Street porch for the Mar Vista Marauders jazz trio.
- 3 to 4 p.m. Choose between Havin Fun's old-time bluegrass on Ocean View at 3 and Kevin Schatz's children's and family music on Westminster at 3:10.
- 4 p.m. End with the Ken Weiner Trio on Kenyon, or go back to Grand View for Nina Storey at 4:25.
If you're stopping on Venice Boulevard afterward, The Arepa Stand recently soft-opened its first permanent restaurant at 12906 Venice Blvd, according to Yo! Venice.
The repeat lineup makes the choice easier
Many performers play more than one porch, and some play both days. Nina Storey plays three times: Orangewood Guitars and the Wade Street porch on Saturday, then Grand View on Sunday. Mary Beth Abella plays Orangewood on Saturday and Grand View on Sunday. Joey Martin is listed on four Mar Vista porches across the two days, including Colby on Saturday and Westminster and Grand View on Sunday.
So choosing a day mostly means choosing a layout. On Saturday you get Barry Avenue's three porches and a storefront stage. On Sunday you get a spread-out map with the market corner in the middle. Either way, there's a good chance you'll hear the same handful of songwriters.
Sunday also has the only scheduled nighttime event. Porchfest's after-hours celebration starts at 7 p.m. at The Auld Fella, 9375 Culver Blvd in downtown Culver City, and is open to performers, hosts, friends and neighbors.
House rules from the FAQ
Porchfest LA's FAQ covers most of what you need to know:
- Bring seating. Folding chairs and blankets are recommended for sitting out front.
- Pets and kids depend on the host. Each porch sets its own rules. If a host allows pets, they must be leashed.
- No open containers between porches. Some hosts may let you bring your own drink onto their property, so ask first. Open alcohol on the street or between venues isn't allowed.
- Nothing is for sale. Donations to performers are welcome but optional.
- Plan your bathroom stops. Hosts don't have to provide them, so check the map for nearby cafes.
- Watch the forecast. The schedule page suggests bringing rain or sun umbrellas.
Last year, LAist suggested skipping parking by biking or picking porches within walking distance. Barry Avenue on Saturday makes that easy.
Whichever day you walk, the Mitch Bassett team would love to hear which Mar Vista porch was your favorite. If you're thinking of hosting next year, or buying on one of these streets, we know these blocks well and are happy to talk them through with you. Book an Appointment whenever you're ready.
