Guilford Porchfest 2026 takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11 am to 6 pm on porches throughout downtown Guilford! Below you'll find the answers to many of your questions regarding Guilford Porchfest. Applications for performers and hosts open in late spring 2026! Have a question not answered below? Email us at guilfordporchfest@gmail.com! 

WHAT IS GUILFORD PORCHFEST?
Guilford Porchfest is a FREE hyperlocal community-building event celebrating the musical talent and creativity of those who live and work in Guilford, Connecticut: young to old, novice to professional, singers, instrumentalists…and everyone in between! 

PERFORMERS
All solo performers and at least one member of any duo or group must live or work in Guilford. Sign ups are open now!

Do I need to bring my own equipment?
Yes! Performers must bring all of their equipment. Hosts will provide electrical outlets, a place to play, and hospitality!

How long can I perform at Guilford Porchfest 2026?
Most Guilford Porchfest sets will last 1 hour total, including time needed for setup and breakdown. If you need more time, or less time, please note the time needed on your application!

How loud can I play at Guilford Porchfest?
Guilford Porchfest is a community event filled with amazing music and mutual respect! All performances should be acoustic or amplified at a very low level, so that you can be heard by folks gathered on the lawn, but not down the street!

How will people know about my performance?
Performer names and schedules will be included on our website and on both our printed and online maps. Guilford Porchfest organizers will be spreading the word through our website, social media channels, our sponsors, and local media outlets! Once performers are matched with their host porches, performers will be asked to create a Facebook event with Guilford Porchfest as the co-host, so that we can spread it to our audience, too! All performers and hosts will be asked to promote performances to their neighbors, friends, and family, so that every performer has an audience!

Will I be paid to perform at Guilford Porchfest?
Guilford Porchfest is a FREE, volunteer-organized event. Performers donate their talent. Homeowners donate their porches, patios, lawns, and driveways. Volunteers donate their time. While performers are not paid, all are permitted and encouraged to sell their merchandise (t-shirts, CDs, etc), set up a tip jar, and advertise their future performances during their set!

I registered my band. What happens next? 
After registration closes in July, we will start arranging the day-of-event schedule and connecting performers with their hosts, so that they can work out the details for their performance. The final performance schedule is generally published a couple weeks before the event.

Will Guilford Porchfest be canceled if it rains?
If it’s a light rain, drizzle or passing shower, Guilford Porchfest will be on! If torrential rain or a thunderstorm is in the forecast, we might use a rain date, which would be Sunday, October 4.  Should we need to move the date, performers and hosts will be notified by Friday, October 2 at 1:00 pm, via social media and email.

HOSTS
How can I apply to be a Guilford Porchfest host?
Are you a Guilford homeowner with a porch, driveway, stoop, or front lawn, a positive attitude, and an accessible power supply, in the Guilford Green area? Apply to be a host for Guilford Porchfest! To keep things walkable, we'll be accepting host applications for addresses within an approximately 10-minute walk from the Guilford Green, south of Route 1. Applications are open now!

Do I need a porch to be a Guilford Porchfest host?
While covered front porches are the norm, any outdoor space located on your property can be a possible Guilford Porchfest option: decks, gazebos, tents, driveways…even barns, as long as the space is accessible and able to accommodate performers and attendees! Please note that all Guilford sidewalks and streets must operate without traffic/pedestrian interference during Guilford Porchfest.

Will I be paid to be a host for Guilford Porchfest?
Guilford Porchfest is a FREE, volunteer-organized event. Performers donate their talent. Homeowners donate their porches, patios, lawns, and driveways. Volunteers donate their time. And we're all volunteers!

Do I need to be home to be a Guilford Porchfest host?
Yes! You'll need to be home for the duration of time you're hosting on that day, to provide support to performers and to welcome attendees!

Do I have to host for the entire length of Guilford Porchfest 2026?
Guilford Porchfest 2026 will run from 11 am to 6 pm. Hosts can choose to have at total of 1 to 3 performers on that day. All performances will start on the hour.

Do I need to feed or provide parking for performers?
No and no. We do ask that hosts provide water (and hosts are more than welcome to provide any other food/refreshments, if they so choose) and a restroom to performers, and allow performers to park at their house to drop off their equipment before the start of the event that day.

Can I decorate my porch for Guilford Porchfest 2026 and/or sell or offer refreshments to performers and/or attendees?
Yes and yes! Guilford Porchfest is a FREE and FUN community-building event. Anything you'd like to do to make it more festive and welcoming, would be great! A suggestion: If you decide to sell refreshments to attendees, please consider donating monies raised directly to the performers or to a charity of your choice!

I registered my porch. What happens next? 
As we move forward, we'll be selecting the most appropriate porches for the event! Venues will be chosen based on porch/venue size, time slots available, and proximity to other locations in the zone, and we will be giving preference to those venues where a rain plan is in place (for obvious reasons)! After registration closes, we'll start arranging the day-of-event schedule and connecting hosts with their performers, so that they can work out the details for Guilford Porchfest. The final performance schedule is generally published a couple weeks before the event.

If my porch is chosen as a Guilford Porchfest venue, how will people be made aware?
If your porch is chosen, your address (but not your name) will be included on our website and on both our printed and online maps. Guilford Porchfest organizers will be spreading the word through our website, social media channels, our sponsors, and local media outlets! All performers and hosts will be asked to promote performances to their neighbors, friends, and family, so that every performer has an audience – and performers will be asked to create a Facebook event promoting their performance, including Guilford Porchfest as a co-host so that we can spread the word to our audience, too!  If you'd like flyers to distribute, let us know! 

Will Guilford Porchfest be canceled if it rains?
If it’s a light rain, drizzle or passing shower, Guilford Porchfest will be on! If torrential rain or a thunderstorm is in the forecast, we might use our rain date of Sunday, October 4. When registering, all hosts will be asked to provide a rain plan (i.e., tent will be used, covered porch, garage), just in case!  Should we need to move the date, performers and hosts will be notified by Friday, October 2, at 1:00 pm, via social media and email.

VOLUNTEERS
I love the idea of Guilford Porchfest but I’m not a performer. How can I get involved?
Guilford Porchfest is all about building and strengthening our community, and volunteers make the world go round! We need 20-25 volunteers to help out on the day of Guilford Porchfest. Some will be stationed on porches, to help hosts and bands; some, answering questions at info tables; others strolling the sidewalks answering questions, keeping attendees out of the street and cleaning up during and after the event. Applications are open now!

LOCAL BUSINESSES
I own a business in town. How can I support Guilford Porchfest?
We encourage local businesses to hold sidewalk sales or provide Guilford Porchfest-themed food and drink samples to engage Guilford Porchfest attendees on the day of the event.  We hope you’ll consider posting Guilford Porchfest flyers in your business window; promoting the event to your customers via email, social media and/or newsletters; signing up to provide access to your business restroom on the day of the event; or signing up to host performers at your business! Interested? Questions? Ideas? Email guilfordporchfest@gmail.com!

ATTENDEES
How much does it cost to attend Guilford Porchfest?
Guilford Porchfest performances are FREE and open to the public!

Who is performing, when and where, at Guilford Porchfest?
Once hosts and performers have been confirmed, a digital map containing times, addresses, and performer names will help you determine where you want to go and who you want to hear! In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Instagram or Facebook for ongoing information about performers and venues!

Are dogs or other animals allowed at Guilford Porchfest?
Because the performances mostly take place on private property throughout town, we ask that you abide by homeowner requests. Probably best to leave your four-legged friends at home!

What should I bring with me to Guilford Porchfest?
Bring your own folding chair, water, blanket, courtesy….and good vibes! Feel free to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Just remember that each venue is someone's home, so be sure to clean up after yourself! We encourage all attendees to park their car and walk, stroll, dance or bike between venues on the day of the event.

Can I bring alcohol to Guilford Porchfest?
Guilford Porchfest performances are all-ages family-friendly community events that take place mostly on private property throughout Guilford and,  thereful, do  not have an officially contained festival area. When in public, you are subject to the usual laws regarding alcohol consumption. 

How can I find a restroom at Guilford Porchfest?
Designated public restrooms at local businesses will be included on our Guilford Porchfest event map.

Where can I park for Guilford Porchfest?
Designated parking places will be included on our Guilford Porchfest event map. Because performances will take place within a square-mile radius, we encourage attendees to park their cars and walk or bike between venues!

What happens if it rains?
If it’s a light rain, drizzle or passing shower, Guilford Porchfest will be on! If torrential rain or a thunderstorm is in the forecast, we might use a rain date of Sunday, October 4. Should we need to move the date, performers and hosts will be notified by Friday, October 2, at 1:00 pm, via social media and email. You’ll find the latest day-of news on our social media channels! So follow us on FB and IG @guilfordporchfest!