Connect With The Old East Dallas Vibe at Peak’s Addition’s Porchfest 2017

Last year’s PorchFest was a complete success. (Photos: Zelman Brounoff)

One of Old East Dallas’ most charming aspects is the plethora of huge front porches that offer a shady spot to get to know your neighbors. So what better way to introduce yourself to the wonderful people and festive atmosphere of Peak’s Suburban Addition than its PorchFest celebration.

This year, the second annual Dallas PorchFest on Oct. 7 will coincide with the grand re-opening of Buckner Park. This city park, which straddles Munger Boulevard and runs aside the Santa Fe Trail, received a $3 million city-financed revitalization. You can attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Buckner Park (4550 Worth St.) at noon, and then walk through the neighborhood of Peak’s Addition to enjoy music, art, and food until 8 p.m.

“This is a block party for our Old East Dallas neighborhood,” said one of the event organizers, Leigh Martin. “And the whole city is invited.”

More than 600 people attended PorchFest last year, organizers estimated. The funds raised by the event went toward the planting of 50 trees and repair of more than 1,500 feet of sidewalk. Similar beautification projects are planned for this year’s proceeds.

For those who like to start thinking of gift-giving season before Halloween starts, Martin says that there will be plenty of art, crafts, and jewelry for sale by local artists. Food, beer, and wine will also be available from neighborhood restaurants and establishments. And for entertainment, let your ears bathe in the sounds produced by local musicians performing on Worth Street homes’ expansive front porches, an iconic feature of many Peak’s Addition residences.

“Our front porches are the original social media,” says Martin. Other organizers include Elizabeth Nelson and Wendy Millsap.

Peak’s Addition, roughly bounded by Live Oak, Peak, Worth and N. Fitzhugh streets, was founded in 1855. It is East Dallas’ oldest residential neighborhood and is known for its architectural diversity and meticulous restorations. Victorian, Craftsman, Prairie, Classical Revival, and Queen Anne homes line the streets.