The 10th annual Jamaica Plain Porchfest kicks off Saturday, bringing hours of musical performances, dance and storytelling to the neighborhood’s porches, green spaces and community hubs.
“It’s a beautiful way to build community,” said Tiniqua Patrick, a jazz and R&B vocalist and JP Porchfest co-producer.
Established in 2014, the festival celebrates a variety of musical genres and the arts. Patrick said this year’s events include five main stages of music, a kids’ stage and a community hour that combines music, art and culture.
“And I think that that’s why it’s been so infectious,” she said. “It feels multi-dimensional.”
Porchfest has grown over the years and has become a space for a diverse community of neighbors, businesses and art enthusiasts.
Ula Café is one of the main festival hosts. Owner Beth Santos says the festival has become a cherished event for Jamaica Plain.
“It’s bringing people together, it is encouraging people to walk around to explore the neighborhood, to connect with each other, to contribute their skills and to kind of like, have a celebration,” Santos said.
The festival was initially produced by Mindy Fried and Marie Ghitman. In 2021, it was taken over by Dunamis, a nonprofit with a goal to nurture Boston’s next generation of artists.
Porchfest’s lineup includes a diverse mix of music with a strong focus on BIPOC artists and curators. Co-producer DeShaun Gordon-King says the festival is a great match for a city with such a vibrant arts scene.
“What they’re coming for is the very, very rich tapestry of culture that is Boston. And so, what Porchfest allows is a sort of stage for all the different artists,” said Gordon-King, who will also be performing at the Classical Stage with DuoFresh, a flute and guitar duo that explores popular songs from Brazil and Argentina.
The First Baptist Church is “Porchfest Central,” while Sam Adams Brewery, Jamaicaway Boathouse, Ula Café on Armory Street, Rogerson House and Roundhead Brewing Beer Garden serve as other locations.
Patrick said this year features a one-hour community block from 3 to 4 p.m. where much of the programming shuts down to allow time for togetherness, joy and celebration. During that time, festivalgoers can enjoy dance classes with El Bonche in Boston at Rogerson House, a writing workshop with Jacquinn Sinclair at Ula Café, and trivia with Black People Know Things at Porchfest Central.
JP Porchfest will also host a kickoff party Friday from 6-8 at Sam Adams Brewery featuring performances by Rambling Roses and a Porch(fest) Rocker beer the brewery created for the event.
The festival is from 12 to 6 p.m. Saturday; it’s free, and also offers free pedicab rides between venues. There is an afterparty scheduled for Sam Adams from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Check out the map of stages and musical artists at jpporchfest.org.
