Paul Marangelo (left) and Avery Lavoie play guitar at 24 Dewey Street during Montpelier’s first Porchfest on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. Photo by Evan Witt

Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship

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MONTPELIER — Dozens of musicians performed on front porches across Montpelier Sunday during the city’s first Porchfest, a free music festival where residents turned their yards into pop-up concert venues.

Despite the rain, neighbors gathered in front of 19 homes to hear musicians like Rob Meehan, a singer-songwriter from Middlesex.

“I think it’s important for the community to share music with each other, especially right now,” Meehan said. “I think we have a lot of things to pull us apart, and this is something to pull us together.” 

Rob Meehan, a singer-songwriter from Middlesex, plays guitar on a porch at the corner of Marvin and Bingham streets during Montpelier’s first Porchfest on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. Photo by Evan Witt

Porchfest started in 2007 in Ithaca, New York, and has since spread to other cities across the country. The Montpelier Porchfest was organized by Monteverdi Music School with a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation.

Jolynda Burton, the school’s executive director, said she was worried going into Sunday because of the rain and cold weather in the forecast. But, she said, the turnout exceeded her expectations.

“People have just come out in spades,” she said. “They have been cheerful. They have been putting up canopies and saying, ‘Ah, it’s just a little bit of rain.’ It’s just been awesome.”

Burton said Porchfest is an important event to have in an increasingly digital world.

“There’s never going to be anything that beats coming together in person to be around each other — not for a meeting, not for a business, but just for being together, living our lives together,” she said.

Musicians from across Vermont came to perform at Porchfest, including Ryan Miller, a singer and guitarist for the alternative rock band Guster. Miller took selfies with fans throughout the event. Photo by Evan Witt

Rick DeAngelis, executive director of the Montpelier Community Market food pantry, spent the afternoon handing out Porchfest maps at the market’s new Barre Street location. The market served as an information hub and gathering place during the festival, and DeAngelis said more than 100 people stopped by.

“There’s power in community, and mutual support, and cooperation, and neighbors taking care of each other,” DeAngelis said. “And to me, that’s really what Porchfest is about. It’s about celebrating those things.”