CARLETON PLACE — The first-ever Carleton Place Porchfest is set for Saturday, Sept. 13, transforming neighbourhood porches, lawns and driveways into small stages for an afternoon of live local music.
Running from 1 to 4 p.m., the grassroots Carleton Place Porchfest will feature performers from across the Ottawa Valley offering folk, country, blues, jazz, rock and more. Guests are invited to explore the community on foot or by bike, choosing their own route using a digital map. A rain date is set for Sept. 20.
Admission is free, but organizers are encouraging guests to bring non-perishable food items or monetary donations for the Lanark County Food Bank – The Hunger Stop. Collection points will be set up throughout the route
Musicians can sign up to play from their own porches or borrow space from volunteer hosts. Performers will be featured on the official Carleton Place Porchfest event map and may include solo acts, duos or full bands, from first-timers to seasoned artists.
Organizer Bill Pope and his wife, Patti Griffin-Pope, are both regular performers in the Ottawa Valley’s open mic scene. They hope the Carleton Place Porchfest builds community while supporting an important local cause.
“Porchfest is about more than just music,” said Pope. “It’s about neighbours meeting neighbours, artists sharing their gifts, and an entire community coming together, not only to enjoy a great day, but to make a difference for our local food bank.”
The event is supported by the Carleton Place Community Enrichment Program. For more information or to volunteer, host or perform, visit www.carletonplaceporchfest.ca
