Let’s celebrate FIVE years of Princeton Porchfest. Starting at noon, multiple porches around town – generously lent by neighbors – will host sets of live music throughout the day.
Most porches feature five sets each. A new act takes the stage on the hour, every hour, from 12-5pm. Bring a chair and make yourself comfortable at one location, or wear your walking shoes and bop around from porch to porch. From classic rock and bluegrass, to jazz, singer-songwriter, blues, hip-hop, and classical, there’s something for everyone at Porchfest.
Stroll around town to hear live local talent, grab a bite, drink, or coffee from one of Princeton’s amazing small businesses, and enjoy a day of free community fun.
Questions? Email Porchfest organizer, Melissa Kuscin.
Press inquiries? Email ACP Marketing/PR Associate, Fiona Clark.
Plan your perfect Porchfest with our interactive map:
Click the image below to explore our 18 “stages” of live performances.
Poetry + Storytelling Open Mic: Story & Verse at Porchfest!
Musicians don’t get to have all the fun at Porchfest.
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a first-time performer, Story & Verse offers a warm and welcoming platform to express yourself and engage with a diverse audience of creatives, casual appreciators, and everyone in between. In honor of Princeton Porchfest, we’re thrilled to take our monthly open mic outdoors to Hinds Plaza, joining in on the community fun and gathering together an enthusiastic audience for the literary + performing arts.
In the event of inclement weather, Story & Verse will be held in the Library’s community room.
Special thanks to the Princeton Public Library and its Public Humanities Initiative for their partnership on this special edition of Story & Verse + Porchfest 2026.
Event FAQ
Neighbors offer their porches, performers volunteer their talents. We pair the two and performances are held throughout the community between 12-5pm, allowing attendees to move from house to house while enjoying music and Princeton hospitality.
The day concludes with a festive closing concert held on Hinds Plaza, located outside the Princeton Public Library. The show starts at 5:15pm.
Our interactive map and list of performers is sorted by genre, so you’ll be able to plan your perfect Porchfest day. Hard copies of this year’s map will be available in our lobby, in local newspapers, and printable for you to download at home.
Yes! Thanks to the good will of our sponsors, volunteers, performers, residents, community sponsors, and donors, Princeton Porchfest is free to attend. If you’d like to help support Princeton Porchfest, you can make a donation here. It’d be so appreciated!
Princeton Porchfest will be held rain or shine. In the event of weather, come prepared with an umbrella or windbreaker. Nothing can stop us from dancin’ in the rain!
Porches are chosen so that they are in small “clusters” spread across town, easily walkable to one another. Those on foot might hit two or three porches, those on a bicycle (or those trying to get their steps!) might try to get to them all. You can do Porchfest however you like – there will always be plenty to see and hear close-by.
You don’t need to bring anything, but you’re welcome to bring water, an umbrella for rain or to keep the sun off your back, and a blanket or lawn chair to stay comfortable during the 45-minute sets.
Princeton Porchfest is brought to you by the Arts Council of Princeton. We are an independent non-profit arts center with the mission of building community through the arts. Porchfest is our mission in action!
Princeton is a town for foodies! We highly recommend checking out the many incredible restaurants, bars, and cafes Princeton has to offer. Come for lunch and stay for dinner!
The Arts Council welcomes you to use our facilities at 102 Witherspoon Street.
The town has three parking garages that will put you right in the heart of the Porchfest map. Check out your options here.
The deadline to apply to Porchfest has passed. Join our waitlist!
Sponsor Porchfest!
By sponsoring this event supporters will not only receive fantastic exposure through various online and printed materials, plus shout-outs on our ever-growing social channels and e-mails reaching our list of 15,000+.
Sponsorship allows us to continue offering quality arts programming to all, regardless of means, including free events such as this!
Interested or have any questions?
Please contact Liza Peck.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS ADVANCE SPONSORS
GUARDIAN ANGEL
BENEFACTOR
MUSE
CHERYL FITZGERALD, ALISON PRUSSING, & MARION YOUNG(Producers of the Spectacular, Spectacular!)
(Producers of the Spectacular, Spectacular!)
DEVOTEE
SUE & BERNIE HVOZDOVIC
LYDIA & JOHAN PFEIFFER
PATRICK DE MAYNADIER
