Get your coolers out of winter storage! Dust off your favorite lawn chairs. Call all your music fan friends! BAPA’s 2023 Porch Concert Series launches on Fri., May 12, 6:30 p.m., on the Longwood Drive lawn at Ridge Historical Society with country swing and classics band, Beverly Country Club.
Music is just part of the fun at BAPA’s Porch Concerts. These free monthly, family-friendly Friday night block parties are open to everyone in the community and include food trucks, fun with your neighbors, and even the convenience of portapotties.
The concert season continues with Return2Soul on June 9, Back Country Boys on July 14, Grit & The Double Knit on Aug. 11, and Old Style Neon (formerly Cloud of Shame) on Sept. 8. Locations will be announced as they are determined.
Once again, BAPA members will have a chance to bring a Porch Concert to their front steps by accepting and winning the Porch Concert Challenge. One block will be chosen to host a Porch Concert in each of four neighborhood zones, based on the highest percentage of BAPA members on the block. It’s easy to become a member – sign up or renew your membership online at bapa.org/support or call 773-233-3100 for assistance.
Why a Challenge?
BAPA’s popular outdoor concert series is in high demand from porch owners who want to host, but we can only open the opportunity to four blocks. Each concert costs more than $1,000. Membership donations are a big help in covering those costs.
The June 9 Porch Concert will be held in the area bounded by 111th and 119th Streets between Vincennes Road and California and Rockwell Avenues.
The July 14 Porch Concert will be held in the area bounded by 95th and 103rd Streets, between California and Western Avenues and Beverly Avenue.
The August 11 Porch Concert will be held in the area bounded by 103rd and 111th Streets between California Avenue and Vincennes Road.
The September 8 Porch Concert will be held in the area bounded by 87th and 95th Streets between Western and Beverly Avenues.
“Membership donations from residents are the backbone of BAPA’s operating budget,” said Executive Director Mary Jo Viero. “The work we do keeping the neighborhood thriving, beautiful, safe, and strong benefits 100% of the people and businesses located here, yet only about 5% of the approximately 15,000 neighborhood households support BAPA financially. BAPA works hard to achieve what we do on a limited budget. With the support of our community, we can do even more.”
Here’s how it works:
Each area will have until two weeks before their concert date to get as many neighbors as possible to join BAPA. The block with the most BAPA members wins the concert and picks the porch.
