MELROSE — This Saturday, September 24, from 2 – 6 p.m., the sound of live music will again be heard throughout the neighborhoods of Melrose, as the community welcomes performers to the fourth annual Melrose Porchfest.
The event has grown in popularity since it first began in 2018 (the event was canceled due to COVID in 2020), almost doubling in size by 2021, to nearly 90 participating performers.
While the event has attracted bands, solo performers, spoken word artists and comedians from other cities and towns, a surprising number of participants are Melrosians.
“Melrose Porchfest has proven to be an overwhelmingly positive event that brings the community together across every neighborhood,” said Mayor Paul Brodeur. “For the past four years, Melrosians who have opened their porches and yards to neighbors and strangers, making for a memorable afternoon across the City. Communities benefit from bonding experiences like this, perhaps now more than ever.”
Porchfest organizers welcome just about any type of performance that can be accommodated by Host porches, driveways and front yards. In fact, residents wishing to host are sometimes turned away, as there are more Hosts volunteering than can be accommodated. For this reason, organizers work hard to recruit performers.
Melrose Porchfest is citywide and free to all. This event is made possible in part by a grant from the Melrose Cultural Council. The rain date is Sunday, September 25, from 2 – 6 p.m. For more information, including on signing up as a performer, host or volunteer, and finding out performance locations, visit Melroseporchfest.org.
