Porchfest is an annual music event coordinated by a group of volunteers who collaborate and work with musicians to host music annually on the front porches + lawns of homes in Milford, CT.
Porchfests are held across the US & Canada. Started in Ithaca, New York, in 2007, Porchfest events bring local musicians and neighborhoods together to celebrate and create a sense of community.
Bands, singers, and instrumentalists participate in the festival for no other reason than to showcase their talents and engage the community. Music is diverse and can range from country to pop, classical, reggae, blues, rock, jazz, Latino, R&B, folk and many others. Musicians voluntarily take to the “stage” on porches at their designated times and perform for the public. Signs with artists’ names and performance times are usually posted in front of porches and online.
Volunteers and other organizations normally facilitate the event by selecting appropriate dates, acquiring musicians, and publicizing the event. Local residents volunteer their porches as a way to support the local music scene and interact with their neighbors. Events can last from a few hours to most of the day. Schedules and maps are usually posted online or in local media.
Because these are normally neighborhood events people walk, ride bikes or scooters, drive golf carts, or push strollers as they move from one porch to another along a determined route to partake in the festivities.
About MAC (Milford Arts Council):
Welcome to the home of Milford Arts Council. Or as we like to call ourselves – the MAC. As the City of Milford’s premier non-profit arts organization since 1972, Milford Arts Council supports and presents every discipline of the arts to audiences of all ages. We have been offering art and photo exhibits, theatre, music, lectures, classes, written word, dance, and other arts experiences for 50 years.
Our VISION is to see creativity happening everywhere, making Milford a thriving destination community of arts and culture. We’re on a MISSION to provide audiences, students, and artists with opportunities and experiences in the arts that enlighten, enrich, and entertain.
With two venues we welcome over 12,000 patrons, visitors, and audience members to the Downtown and Walnut Beach business districts with over 250 events per year while engaging over 800 performers and artists. In 2021 we added a new performance space in Eisenhower Park, making our season of events year-round and embracing the outdoors!