SANFORD, Fla. – Sanford Porchfest, a popular free community event that highlights local music and artists, will not return next year.
In a post on social media, event organizers said the event is hitting “pause” to build a “stronger foundation for the years ahead.”
“Our festival has always been about more than music. It’s about community, connection, and celebrating the incredible local talent that makes our town so special,” the post reads. “... Unfortunately, delays in finalizing logistics with the necessary parties and the need for a unified plan to sustain the festival’s future have made it impossible to move forward and deliver the level of magic as we’ve grown to expect.”
Event organizers promise “this is not goodbye,” and the event will return in February 2027, which will mark 10 years since their first event.
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According to the event’s website, four women — Nancy, Shana, Kim and Shelly — started the Sanford Porchfest Corporation “to create an unforgettable experience for their city.”
The event earlier this year featured over 70 performances on 18 porches in downtown Sanford and raised $80,000 in donations that went toward youth programs in Seminole County.
Read the full message below:
Dear SPF Fam,
It’s with heavy hearts that we share the news that Sanford Porchfest will not take place this coming February. This decision was incredibly difficult, and we feel the weight of it deeply. Our festival has always been about more than music. It’s about community, connection, and celebrating the incredible local talent that makes our town so special.
We know how much this event means to you - the families who come every year, the volunteers who give their time, the local musicians who pour their hearts into every performance, and the students whose dreams are supported through our arts scholarships. This decision was not made lightly, and we share in the deep disappointment felt by our community, artists, and partners.
Unfortunately, delays in finalizing logistics with the necessary parties and the need for a unified plan to sustain the festival’s future have made it impossible to move forward and deliver the level of magic as we’ve grown to expect. Rather than compromise the integrity and quality of the experience, we believe it is best to pause, reflect, and work toward building a stronger foundation for the years ahead.
But please know... this is not goodbye. Sometimes you must hit pause. Sanford Porchfest Music Festival will return in February of 2027, 10 years since our first event, ready to once again fill our streets and hearts with music, joy, and togetherness.
We remain deeply committed to our mission of supporting local musicians, promoting the arts, and fostering opportunities for creative growth. We encourage everyone who loves this event to continue showing up for our local artists, attending their performances, supporting arts programming throughout our community, and investing in the creative spirit that makes this place so vibrant.
Thank you for your understanding, your patience, and most of all, your continued belief in the power of music and the arts to bring people together. We’ll miss gathering with you, but we’ll be back before you know it.
With (heartfelt gratitude and hope),
Team Sanford Porchfest
Sanford Porchfest