The Reading Post

Old Time Sing-Along: From the Porch to the House of Prayer
2026-04-25 19:00 (America/New_York) | Church of the Good Shepherd, 95 Woburn Street, Reading, MA, 01867, United States
An evening of bluegrass-inspired spiritual music featuring sing-along favorites that celebrate faith, fellowship, and community tradition
Reading, MA — The Church of the Good Shepherd, in collaboration with the First Congregational Church, invites the community to an evening of music on Saturday, April 25 at 7:00 PM.
“From the Porch to the House of Prayer” celebrates spiritual songs from the North American tradition, drawing on bluegrass and Southern traditional music. The program features heartfelt songs, lively instrumentals, and familiar choruses that invite audience participation.
These songs—once shared on porches, in houses of worship, and at community gatherings across the Appalachian South—carry themes of faith, perseverance, and fellowship through simple, powerful melodies.
All are welcome to come listen, sing, and share in a musical tradition where community and spirit meet.

Reading PorchFest
2026-06-27 12:00 - 18:00 | MA
Volunteer-run festival aims to top 100 acts as performers and hosts sign up for 2026 celebration of music and community

Reading, MA — Despite all the snow still on the ground, it’s time again to start thinking about PorchFest.
Reading PorchFest returns for its eighth year on Saturday, June 27. Links are now up at ReadingPorchFest.com for those who wish to perform, to host a band or solo act, or maybe both.
Reading PorchFest was born during the town’s 375th anniversary in 2019 and has grown every year since. Last year, the festival boasted 99 separate musical acts at 46 locations, including driveways, front yards, and, of course, porches. We hope to break the 100 mark this June.
To take part in this all-volunteer effort, visit the website, check out the instructions, and join in for the 2026 edition.
As we get closer to the event, the website will feature a gallery of performers, and on the Facebook page watch for music snippets featuring samples of many of the upcoming performances. A complete map and schedule will be posted about a week before the event.
It is always a great day, filled with entertainment combined with community spirit.
Make sure to save the date – June 27 – running from noon until six pm.

Wakefield Porchfest
2026-08-29 12:00 | MA
Saturday, August 29th
Celebration of Live, Local Music Sets Date for 3rd Annual Townwide Event
Rain Date on Sunday, August 30th

WAKEFIELD, MASS. – The Wakefield Porchfest Committee has selected a date for Wakefield Porchfest 2026, which will return to town on Saturday, August 29, 2026, with a rain date the following day, Sunday, August 30th. The exact time for the event has yet to be determined, but will be announced later this year, along with registration details for bands and hosts. The 2026 event will be the third annual community-wide festival, which is focused on promoting local live music across the town, with music acts hosted by homes and small businesses.
“The final weekend of August will be the perfect time for an end-of-summer celebration of live local music, and an opportunity for our community to come together before the start of school and the busy fall season,” said Porchfest Committee member Nate Johnson. “Wakefield is lucky to have one of the country’s best Fourth of July celebrations at the start of summer, and we hope Wakefield Porchfest can become an annual tradition to close out the season. We’re looking forward to getting work underway to make this the best live music event in the region!”
The 2026 event builds on the success of the previous events in 2024 and 2025, which each drew over 100 musical acts at 50 to 60 host locations around Wakefield. The community-wide event is coordinated by a group of volunteers who collaborate with musicians and the Wakefield residents, homeowners, and small businesses who host performances.
Some additional details announced by the Committee, in addition to the 2026 event date:

Registration for hosts and musical acts will also open later in the spring. Residents or businesses interested in hosting musical acts, or those interested in performing, should register on the Wakefield Porchfest website to receive an update when registration opens;
Those interested in becoming a sponsor for Porchfest 2026 can reach out via email to sponsor@wakefieldporchfest.com to communicate interest and learn about our sponsorship options; and
The exact time for the 2026 event will be announced later in the year.

Earlier this year, Wakefield Porchfest co-founder Ike Adams received the Wakefield Human Rights Commission’s Community Service Award for 2026, an honor awarded during the Town’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 19th. Adams was nominated by local community members Eileen Rooney and Ben Blackstone, a high school musician, who introduced him at the event, which was shown live by WCAT.
In his acceptance speech, Adams highlighted the many volunteers, hosts, musicians, sponsors, and music fans that help deliver a celebration of live music and of the community.
“We made a day all about music and filled the town with it, twice so far,” said Adams. “My goal moving forward is simply: more music, more volume, more often, more styles, more variety, more venues, more bands, more fans, more music in places we haven’t heard it yet, more people playing or singing for the first time, and more people picking back up after a long break. If any of this sounds like something you’ve been considering, this is your invitation.”
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Wakefield Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Wakefield Porchfest also receives funding and in-kind support from businesses and residents across the community.
Wakefield is one of more than 200 communities that host a Porchfest, according to organizers in Ithaca, NY, which launched the first iteration of the community-focused music event in 2007.
