Cranford's Porchfest 2018: Check Out The Music Map In Our Guide

CRANFORD, NJ - A dozen porches in homes around Cranford will be turned into performing arts venues for three hours on Saturday as part of the second annual Porchfest.

According to the website, many years ago, Lesley Greene and Gretchen Hildreth, two ukulele-playing neighbors from Ithaca, NY, had an amazing idea: What if for one afternoon porches all over the neighborhood became stages and everyone just strolled from porch to porch, listening, singing, dancing, and connecting with their neighbors?

Cranford’s Porchfest is family-friendly community music festival and open to all. The afternoon consists of porch performances at private homes by individual bands and musicians performing various types of music.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct., from 2-5 p.m., followed by a closing throw down at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Cranford. Rain date is Oct. 20, same time, same place, same porches, same bands.

Reminders from organizers on enjoying Porchfest 2018:

Getting Around Town

• Rather than driving, consider walking or biking. Most porches are within a healthy walking or biking distance of another porch.

Shared Streets

• This year, all streets with Porchfest hosts will be closed at the discretion of Cranford Police Department. Access will be restricted throughout the event but all those using streets and sidewalks remain responsible for their own actions on private property.
• On the day of Porchfest, we do ask Cranford drivers to slow down and keep an eye out for pedestrians, bikes, and families enjoying the festivities. For those enjoying the festival, recognize that sometimes people in a car need to get somewhere. Please watch out for yourself and others, it's the neighborly thing to do.

Alcoholic Beverages

• Porchfest is a community event. That means there are no alcohol sales or consumption permitted in prohibited public areas. Event performances take place on private property but are linked by public streets and spaces. When in public, you're responsible for your own behavior and subject to all existing ordinances regarding alcohol consumption. Remember that all of our venues are someone’s property so be sure to clean up after yourself.

Food and Drink

• Porchfest has no prohibitions on outside food so feel free to bring your own. Please consider picking up food from one of our local restaurants and packing a picnic.

Is there a map or some kind of schedule?

• Yes. You can view it below, view on your mobile device or download a map and print-at-home.

Organizers remind attendees all normal rules of law and order apply and everyone remains responsible for their own behavior. Wander around, keep yourself safe, watch out for others, and enjoy the day.

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

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