Walpole Porchfest 2024
Music returns to downtown Walpole and to neighborhood porches
12 September 2024
Porchfest, a nationwide event bringing local musicians and neighborhoods together to celebrate and create a sense of community, will take place locally on front porches throughout Walpole and at the Town Common bandstand on Sat., Sept. 14 from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Four musical acts will entertain from the downtown bandstand, while additional acts can be enjoyed outside local residences on Common Street, Hoover Road, and Coolidge Road. This will be Walpole’s fourth year of participation. The 2024 complete program of artists, locations and performance times, as well as musician spotlights and other updates, can be viewed on Facebook at Walpole Porchfest.
The event, presented in conjunction with Destination Downtown Walpole, will feature local musicians and bands playing rock, pop, soul, country and western, folk, rhythm and blues and jazz.
Katie Hurwitz, 23, a Walpole resident who currently attends the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, created and organized the first three Walpole Porchfests with great success, featuring many musicians mostly playing on home front porches and Town Common bandstand with hundreds attending the shows. Her dad, Eric Hurwitz (a Destination Downtown board member) assumed responsibilities when Katie attended the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. She still helps with each event when time allows.
"Walpole Porchfest 2023 was a great success with so many amazing musicians throughout the community," said Eric. "People took in the music performance at the Town Common and from their cars, sides of the roads and spacious lawns. A few people had told us this was the best part of their summer. We are looking forward to expanding the event this year."
The annual event, however, goes beyond just music, according to Katie.
“While Walpole Porchfest has provided an outlet for musicians to showcase their talents, it’s been more than just the performances,” said Katie. “It has been about fostering a sense of connection and community belonging. People from all walks of life, families and friends, have come together on the vibrant streets, creating a sense of unity and joy that remains resonating long after the last note has been played. Looking forward, I see Walpole Porchfest continuing as a cherished tradition that strengthens community bonds through music.”
Scenes from Walpole Porchfest 2023:
