Roslindale Porch Fest is a day of music, fun, and community

What’s It Like To Attend Porch Fest?

Never been to a Porch Fest? You’re in for a treat.

Porch Fests are special. Started in Ithaca, New York in 2007, Porch Fest events bring local musicians and neighborhoods together to celebrate and create a sense of community.

Picture over 150 bands, singers, DJs, and everything in between, spread across Roslindale for one seriously musical afternoon – creating a walkable trail of performances all over the neighborhood.

Download the Roslindale Porch Fest app, grab your sunglasses, a couple of a friends, and maybe a lawn chair, and enjoy a free day of entertainment. It’s a fantastic way to meet your neighbors (especially the ones who share your taste in music).

FAQs for Attendees

Who can attend Roslindale Porch Fest? Do you need to live in Roslindale?

Anyone can attend Roslindale Porch Fest. It’s free and open to the public – Rozzidents and non-Rozzidents, alike.

How do I know where to go?

You can plan ahead or go with the flow. There’s no wrong way to enjoy Roslindale Porch Fest. We will be post the list of performers and the schedule on our website, plus new for this year (and the easiest way to navigate Porch Fest) is the Roslindale Porch Fest app. Available for iPhone and Android, it will have the schedule, map and all the info you need to get the best out of Porch Fest.

How long does Roslindale Porch Fest last?

Roslindale Porch Fest goes from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, with performance slots from 1:00-2:00pm, 2:20-3:20pm, 3:40-4:40pm, and 5:00-6:00pm. You can come and go at any time.

Are kids welcome?

Totally! It’s a perfect family friendly event for all ages. Bring your kids, dog, grandma, boss – we don’t care, as long as you show up.

How will I know if it’s rained out?

We will post on social media by 10am the day of. Follow along using the links below to stay up-to-date!

FAQS for Bands

  • In previous years, we have accepted 100% of performer registrations and plan to do so again. However, if we have an unusually high number of registrations, there’s a small chance this could change. We will let you know for sure after August 15, when registration closes. Register ASAP to secure your spot!

  • Yes, on the registration form, you can request an address that you want to play at. The owner of that porch will complete the Host Registration form, so send them a link to Host information page on our website and encourage them to sign up!

  • Performers are expected to have one hour of material for each slot you sign up for. You can choose to play one or two sets. We ask that you please stick to the set times. We carefully plan the sets to avoid noise conflicts in neighborhoods. Please don't finish playing early - some folks will plan to catch the last half of a performers set, so finishing early can cause disappointment.

  • Yes! We will pair you with a host.

  • Porch Fest is a free community event where people perform for free in order to share their music and love of live performance.

    We celebrate this grassroots, community aspect of the event, but we recognize that performing can incur various costs, and we are committed to ensuring that these do not become barriers to participation. So in 2024 we are piloting a Performer Support Program to make Porch Fest as accessible as possible to all musicians, regardless of financial circumstances. You can find out more about it here

  • This is a community event and sharing is strongly encouraged! Before the event we will connect you with the host and the other performers playing, so you have the chance to coordinate sharing of equipment. Reach out to the Porch Fest team if you need more help!

  • Yes, you are very welcome to put out a tip jar/display your Venmo info for folks to tip you. You can also sell CDs and merchandise.

    New for 2024: the Roslindale Porch Fest app will contain performer bios, and can include a link to your Venmo so people can tip directly in the app. Just give us your Venmo details when you register and we'll do the rest!

FAQs for Hosts

  • All you need is an outdoor space, such as a porch, lawn, or driveway. You’ll make your space available to performers and attendees.

  • No. While some hosts do choose to make these things available to attendees, it’s not required at all.

  • On the registration form, you will be asked whether or not you can provide electricity. If you cannot, we will try to pair you with a performer who doesn’t need it.

  • Yes, on the registration form you can designate a particular band or performer. If you don’t have one in mind, we’re happy to pair you with one or more.

  • If you don't know any bands/performers the Porch Fest team will assign acts to play on your porch. It is unlikely you'll have a performer for all four time slots - many porches will only have one or two bands playing...and that's OK! It means you have the chance to wander the neighborhood and check out some of the other porches!