Both Wakefield and Stoneham communities host PorchFest events Saturday, giving Reading music fans a chance to discover new performers for next year’s festival
Reading, MA — If you missed the music at Reading PorchFest in June, there are two nearby chances to catch some live porch music this weekend.
Both Wakefield PorchFest and Stoneham PorchFest take place Saturday, August 29, and Reading PorchFest is encouraging local fans to check them out.
The Reading organizers say both festivals have “fabulous line-ups of musical entertainment,” including some performers who may be familiar to people who attended Reading’s PorchFest earlier this summer.
There’s also another reason to pay attention: Saturday’s outings could be a chance to discover a band that might eventually end up performing in Reading.
Wakefield PorchFest
Wakefield PorchFest runs from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, with more than 100 musical acts performing at about 60 locations around town.
The lineup covers a wide range of musical styles, with performers playing on porches and at other neighborhood spots. An online schedule and map make it possible to plan a route or simply wander from one performance to the next.
Among the performers is The Millis Berfield Band, which will play from 2 to 4 p.m. on the back lawn of Temple Emmanuel, 120 Chestnut Street. The New England folk-rock band performs both covers and original songs.
Wakefield PorchFest Schedule and Map
Stoneham PorchFest
Stoneham PorchFest also gets underway at noon and continues until 7 p.m.
Musicians will perform at porches, driveways and yards throughout the community, giving visitors plenty of options as they make their way around town.
The festival’s schedule and performance locations are available online.
Stoneham PorchFest Official Website
Looking Ahead To 2027
Reading PorchFest organizers aren’t just suggesting that residents check out the nearby festivals for a fun afternoon. They’re also looking for ideas for next year’s lineup.
In a message posted to the Reading PorchFest Facebook page, organizers said they plan to “split our time between the two towns,” as they did last year.
They also asked residents to keep an ear out for performers who might be a good fit for Reading PorchFest in 2027.
“If you see/hear a band you think you’d like to see at next year’s Reading PorchFest on June 26, 2027,” organizers wrote, residents should pass the band’s name along to the Reading PorchFest organizers and mention Reading PorchFest to the performers.
For Reading music fans, that makes Saturday a bit of a scouting trip. Start in Wakefield, head over to Stoneham, check out a few bands and maybe find a new favorite along the way.
And who knows? You might see that same band playing on a porch in Reading next June.
Wakefield PorchFest: Saturday, August 29, noon–6 p.m.
Stoneham PorchFest: Saturday, August 29, noon–7 p.m.
Reading PorchFest: Saturday, June 26, 2027
