47 Volunteers Power Bowling Green's Free Music Festival

When Brian Young and Bob Midden started BG Porchfest six years ago, they paid for everything themselves because they believed in bringing free music to their community.

This year, 47 volunteers will help coordinate the May 30 festival in Bowling Green, Ohio. That's the highest number in the event's history, according to volunteer coordinator Bertie Simcox.

The volunteers handle everything from setup to teardown, staff the merchandise tent, and serve as ambassadors who keep streets clear and answer questions. "We would never be able to do it without the volunteers," Young said.

The festival features 21 bands performing on porches and in parking lots throughout the neighborhood. Shows start every 15 minutes beginning at 1:30 p.m., creating a tight schedule that requires careful coordination.

For the first two years, Young and Midden covered all expenses out of their own pockets. "Whatever bills we had, we paid," Young recalled.

But as the festival grew, local businesses and organizations stepped up. Newlove Realty became a long-time sponsor because broker Andy Newlove sees the grassroots arts scene as essential to what makes Bowling Green special.

"It's a big deal for these festivals and these events to get the support they need, or they won't be able to do it," Newlove said.

The planning process starts early. This year's committee began meeting monthly in August 2025 to handle band contracts, merchandise, insurance, signage, and securing performance spaces.

Drummer Ruben Arreguin, who will close out the festival with the CBR Trio, says the community excitement makes Porchfest unique. "A lot of people come specifically for a particular band," he said.

This year brings a new improvement: special event permits that prevent parking in front of performance porches. Festival organizer Sean Brennan worked with the city to create better sight lines and listening experiences for attendees.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

What started as two people willing to fund a community music festival from their own wallets has grown into a volunteer army and a network of local sponsors invested in keeping arts alive in their town. The festival now draws crowds who plan their day around catching multiple bands, creating an economic and social boost that ripples through the entire neighborhood each spring.

From volunteers to sponsors to the musicians themselves, BG Porchfest proves that when enough people believe in bringing free joy to their community, they find a way to make it happen.