A festival the neighborhood throws for itself.

Porchfest started in Ithaca, New York in 2007 and has since spread to hundreds of neighborhoods across the country. The idea is simple and wholesome: neighbors with porches host neighbors with instruments, and the rest of us walk between them.

Santa Cruz has always been a music town — and we think there’s room for even more of it, spilling out beyond any single stage or venue. The first annual Santa Cruz Porchfest is our love letter to our community and our musicians: a free, all-ages, one-day festival where front porches across downtown become tiny stages, and the whole town becomes the venue.

On the day

• Several bands playing on porches across downtown.
• Music from 12 to 6pm, with sets running about an hour each.
• Walk the route at your own pace — bring water, a friend, a kid.
• Food and drinks at local spots along the way.
• Tip jars on every porch — every dollar goes directly to the musicians.

Get involved

We’re a volunteer-run labor of love. If you’d like to play, host a porch, sponsor the event, or help on the day, visit our sign-up page or reach out at santacruzporchfest@gmail.com.