Porchfest Annapolis comes to Murray Hill this Saturday, October 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Musicians will play from 11 front porches on Southgate Avenue, Thompson Street and the surrounding blocks, and anyone walking by can stop and listen for free. If it rains, Sunday, October 25 is the backup date.
Murray Hill's fall calendar usually happens a few blocks away, on West Street. This Saturday the stages are on the neighborhood's own streets, and the rest of town walks in.
A Festival That Picked Murray Hill and Picked October
Porchfest Annapolis is in its second year. The first one was held on June 14, 2025, in the Germantown-Homewood neighborhood. For 2026 it moved to Murray Hill and to the fall. Lead artist Kaitlyn McQuaid told Eye On Annapolis that the performers themselves asked for the date change.
"Last year's inaugural Porchfest, in the Germantown-Homewood neighborhood, was an amazing success," says lead artist Kaitlyn McQuaid. "We moved it from June to a cooler season at the performers' request."
The goal hasn't changed since the first year. Before the 2025 event, McQuaid told What's Up? Annapolis, "Getting to know each other with music as the connector is our goal."
The event has institutional support too. The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County lists itself, the Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians and Arts, and the City of Annapolis Art in Public Places Commission as supporters.
How a Porch Becomes a Stage
The format is simple, but if you live on one of the stage blocks it helps to know how it works. On the official Porchfest Annapolis site, organizers explain that musicians play on the front porch while listeners gather in the front yard or on the sidewalk. The music is "acoustic or lightly amplified," so it won't be concert-loud on any block.
The practical details from the organizers' FAQ:
- Maps. Maps will be posted on the website before the event, and printed copies will be handed out on the day.
- Food. Bring a picnic or snacks if you like, and take your trash with you.
- Dogs. Leashed dogs are welcome, and owners are expected to clean up after them. Organizers also point out that some people in the crowd may be allergic to or afraid of dogs.
- Kids. Organizers call it family-friendly. They ask everyone to keep an eye on children and to respect the porch host's property.
- Parking. Knighton Garage and Park Place Garage are both within walking distance, and organizers would rather visitors walk or bike in.
That parking advice matters most to people who live here. The festival happens on residential streets, and the organizers' plan sends drivers to the two garages, which keeps cars off the stage blocks.
Each set lasts 40 minutes, so there is time to move between porches during the afternoon.
Thirty-Two Acts on Eleven Porches
In September, Eye On Annapolis reported plans for more than 25 local acts. The final roster on the official site lists 32, and Naptown Scoop reported the same number in mid-October.
The biggest name on the list is the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. Seeing it booked for a front porch is reason enough to check the map. The full roster:
| Acts A through D | Acts D through R | Acts S through T |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Hawkins | David Sparrow | Sisiwitch |
| Ahmed Warshanna | Doug Segree | Skribe |
| Alaina Tamash | DRKVN | Solid Sender Trio |
| Annapolis Symphony Orchestra | Gary Wright & Leah Weiss | Soren Mattson |
| Asenath Rose | Jimi Haha | SVV Duo |
| Black Rhinoceros | KVD | The Befuddlers |
| Brandt Dunn | Madisun Bailey | The Livebox |
| Brothers and Sisters | Michael McHenry | Tim Atkinson |
| Callum | Neil Harpe | Tim Kurtzberg |
| Carolyn Krohn and Bill Mackechnie | Riverside Ramblers | |
| Clair Elaine | ||
| Dan Guay & Sara Catherine | ||
| Danah Denice |
If you want a fixed time to plan around, Gary Wright & Leah Weiss play from 11:20 a.m. to noon, early in the day. The full schedule is on the organizers' map and schedule graphics, which list which act plays which porch and when. Get the printed map that morning and plan your route from it.
The Same Saturday, the Scarecrows Arrive on West Street
Porchfest also lines up with the start of the Fifth Annual Annapolis Scarecrow Stroll. The Inner West Street Association lists the stroll from October 24 through November 2, with scarecrows set up along West Street, Main Street, Maryland Avenue and State Circle.
That makes it easy to combine the two. Leave the porches around 3 p.m., walk up to Church Circle, and the first block of West Street will already have its scarecrows. It is also the closest stop for one of the Great Annapolis Pumpkins. Naptown Scoop reported in early October that one of the giants sits at the Visitors Center on West Street, and that some of this year's pumpkins weigh more than 1,000 pounds. They are due to be carved shortly before Halloween.
Halloween and First Sunday Bring the Week Back to West Street
Once Porchfest is over, the neighborhood's calendar moves back to its usual places. West Street's outdoor season ends with a run of dates in the week after Porchfest:
| Date | Event | Where | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Porchfest Annapolis | Southgate Ave., Thompson St. and nearby blocks | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free, rain date Oct. 25 |
| Oct. 24 to Nov. 2 | Annapolis Scarecrow Stroll | West St., Main St., Maryland Ave., State Circle | Fifth annual |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Free Motown concert | First block of West Street | 6 to 9 p.m., outdoor dining from 5 p.m. |
| Sun., Nov. 1 | First Sunday Arts Festival | Inner West Street | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., last date of 2026 |
The Halloween concert is the easiest event to fit into the evening. The Inner West Street Association lists the free Motown concert from 6 to 9 p.m., with outdoor dining starting at 5 p.m. It extends the Dinner Under the Stars format, which the City scheduled for Wednesdays through October 21. On those nights West Street was closed to traffic between Church Circle and Calvert Street.
The next morning, the First Sunday Arts Festival holds its last date of 2026 on November 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Organizers describe more than 100 vendors, live entertainment and café dining. The festival has run monthly since May 3, and November 1 is the last date on its 2026 calendar.
A Familiar Room on West Street, Under New Owners
Murray Hill residents walking to any of these events will pass 49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar & Gallery at 49 West Street, which has new owners this fall. According to Eye On Annapolis, Myriam Osorio McCormick, owner of McCormick Bakery & Chocolate Factory, bought the business from Brian and Sarah Cahalan effective September 1, 2026. The same report says the sale is expected to bring some renovations and updates while keeping the restaurant's character, staff and live music program.
Every event this week has live music, from the porches on Saturday to the Motown stage on Halloween. Under its new owner, 49 West plans to keep its live music going after the First Sunday tents come down on November 1.
Getting Through Saturday on Foot
For Murray Hill residents, the simplest plan uses no car at all. Pick up a printed map at the first porch you reach, follow the stages along Southgate Avenue and Thompson Street through the early afternoon, and walk up to West Street for the scarecrows and the pumpkin at the Visitors Center when the music ends at 3. If you're hosting family or friends that weekend, send them to Knighton Garage or Park Place Garage and meet them at the first porch.
Organizers have been looking for porch managers for two-hour shifts. Volunteers keep performers on schedule, and the short shifts leave time to visit the other porches before or after. Anyone interested can email [email protected] or use the volunteer form on the Porchfest Annapolis site.
Our family has watched Annapolis neighborhoods change since 1968, and porch music on Southgate Avenue is a good kind of change. If Saturday's walk gets you thinking about what a Murray Hill porch is worth, from either side of the transaction, The Tower Team would be glad to talk it through. Work With Us.