Virginia Highland District Association — Community Update

Thank you to the thousands of neighbors, volunteers, musicians, local businesses, and attendees who helped make this Porchfest a special celebration of our community.

As we review this year’s event, we’re surveying local businesses, residents, and attendees to understand their experience and input.  We are also evaluating our operations and each of the changes implemented for this year and how they functioned throughout the event. 

We plan to share the feedback through community conversations.

Porchfest supports Virginia Highland District Association’s broader mission of creating a safer, more beautiful, and more connected neighborhood across Atkins Park, Virginia Highland, and Morningside along our shared commercial corridor.

Funds generated through the event largely support ongoing neighborhood improvements and community initiatives year-round, including:

• Hosting community events, from the weekly VaHi Farmers Market to Restaurant Week and Winterfest
• Providing small business support that keeps VaHi unique, local, and thriving by serving as a collaborative resource for local businesses and property owners
• Advancing streetscape beautification projects throughout the district, like maintaining weekly landscaping and corridor upkeep while expanding and maintaining warm white tree lighting.
• Coordinating security through off-duty police presence, including humane approaches to challenges with unhoused individuals

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We’re incredibly proud of what Porchfest has become and excited about what it can continue to do for our neighborhood. With growth comes responsibility, and we are committed to working collaboratively to ensure the event evolves in a way that benefits our neighbors and local businesses that make VaHi the best place to eat, shop, and play.

We encourage residents and local businesses to continue sharing feedback and ideas as we begin planning for next year. 

Resident Survey

VaHi Business Survey

Attendee Survey