The combination of free concerts, the a warm spring day, and the hopes of seeing a Grammy nominated singer made Watertown Porchfest 2026 a huge community celebration.
The third annual event boasted more than 200 performances at over 80 locations around Watertown on Saturday, May 16. Some of the venues were institutions — such as the Watertown Free Public Library, First Parish Church, and Gore Place — as well as multiple businesses.
Five neighborhoods hosted block parties, where traffic was blocked off so audiences could fill the street, groove to the music, and chat with old friends and meet some new ones.
In the lead up to Porchfest, talk of a famous former resident playing an impromptu concert spread around town. The rumor of Noah Kahan playing in Watertown made it to Redditt, and then some people heard that he grabbed an order at a Watertown coffee business on Saturday, but it appears fans will have to go to Fenway Park in July to catch the Grammy-nominee.
There day did include a set by Buffalo Tom on Adams Avenue, where the band took requests from the crowd of around 200.
A venue on Thurston Road during Porchfest got some exposure on Boston 25.
A bald eagle came to check out one of the concerts during this year’s Porchfest, reported Xin Peng.
Heather Angstrom had a message for the Porchfest organizers: “Thank you for coordinating an amazing lineup of performers today. The bands were talented and SO fun, and incredibly supportive and generous with each other. A great day!”
