Local band Jeezum Crowe — from left, Peter Crowley, Jacob Stern and Lauren Yates — play on a porch during the first Saranac Lake PorchFest Aug. 2, 2025. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

SARANAC LAKE – Saranac Lake PorchFest is seeking bands and hosts for its second annual music festival, Saturday, Aug. 1.

PorchFest pairs residential hosts with local and regional bands for a community-wide music festival where porches become stages, yards become venues and neighbors gather together.

Saranac Lake’s inaugural PorchFest in 2025 had participation from 20 acts, even more individual artists, and 12 “porch” hosts. The event serves as a fundraiser for Mountain Melodies and Camp Pendragon to help fund scholarships and programming for the community’s youth. Through sponsorships and the sale of T-shirts, last year’s event raised $500 each for the two local music organizations.

All shows are free to attend, and attendees are encouraged to stroll freely from venue to venue. To help direct listeners, a list and map of participating venues and bands will be available online and in print. The family-friendly event will be held rain or shine.

Local residents and musical groups are encouraged to sign up on Saranac Lake PorchFest’s website, saranaclakeporchfest.org, by July 10. Bands and hosts are encouraged to sign up pre-paired, though individuals will be accepted and paired by the Saranac Lake PorchFest committee. The committee is also seeking volunteers, ambassadors and sponsors.

Saranac Lake has long had a strong and active music scene. PorchFest celebrates that local legacy while welcoming others to experience it in a community-driven format. A concept initiated in Ithaca, in 2007, PorchFest events are held annually across the state, country and Canada, some featuring over 100 acts and drawing a significant visiting audience in addition to resident engagement.

For more information, or to sign up as a participating porch or act, visit www.saranaclakeporchfest.org or Saranac Lake PorchFest on Facebook.