During the annual Modesto Porchfest, more than 100 musical acts transform the patios, driveways, and yes, porches around the Central Valley city’s historic neighborhoods into impromptu concert stages.
Launched in 2017, the annual celebration in May is part block party, part Lollapalooza, and a great way for visitors to get an inside look at Modesto as residents celebrate both music and their Central Valley hometown.
How to Go to Porchfest
First, the good news: Modesto Porchfest is free, and no tickets are required. Dubbed a “crowdsourced music festival,” Porchfest is very much a grassroots happening with few rules and plenty of ways to make your own experience. Performances take place in front of homes throughout Modesto’s Downtown, La Loma, and College neighborhoods. Maps and schedules identify the locations, times, and genres of each show.
Festival maps are available starting in late April on the Porchfest website and are updated through the event. From there, it’s up to you to decide how you want to spend the afternoon. Some people target specific performers while others hang out at one house and wait for whoever happens to play there. Or just follow your ears to what sounds best.
Because Porchfest is designed to encourage mingling and be pedestrian-friendly—and because parking at individual sites is limited—organizers recommend parking remotely and walking or biking within the event area.
Many people bring blankets and folding chairs, and picnics are also common. Food is available at area restaurants and from vendors stationed at a few of the homes hosting concerts. And while the event is free, a spirit of generosity is central to Porchfest—so definitely stash some cash to tip the bands.
More Things to Do in Modesto
The city’s vibrant local music scene earned Modesto honors in a recent nationwide poll as the country’s top “under-the-radar” destination for live music. When you stroll downtown Modesto, you’ll also see that it’s home to about 100 street murals, thanks in part to the annual DoMo Walls festival.
While Porchfest is certainly an annual highlight, Modesto offers a year-round calendar of arts and entertainment: Take inclassical music, touring Broadway musicals, and national acts in the grand setting of downtown’s Gallo Center for the Arts. At the Fruit Yard Chicken Ranch Casino Resort Amphitheater, enjoy balmy Central Valley nights and concerts under the stars by top performers like Ringo Starr, Darius Rucker, and Dustin Lynch.
Founded in 1919, the Modesto Band of Stanislaus County plays a series of summer shows at the Mancini Bowl in Graceada Park that feature marches, patriotic music, swing, and even a bit of rock ‘n’ roll.
Speaking of rock ‘n’ roll, Graceada Park is also the site of August’s annual Modstock Music Festival, where 100 bands play on five stages. Dedicated to Modesto’s indie music scene, Off the Air produces occasional live all-age shows at downtown’s intimate Prospect Theater Project.
Where to Stay in Modesto for Porchfest
Spend the weekend in Modesto, and you’re bound to find all sorts of musical happenings around town. For lodging options, check out Visit Modesto’s extensive hotel listings, which include several mainstream brands such as Best Western and DoubleTree by Hilton.