HONK! Festival

HONK! Festival HONK! is an annual gathering of activist street bands that converges in Davis Square, Somerville, MA. www.honkfest.org

Across the country and around the world, a new type of street band is emerging. Acoustic and mobile, borrowing repertoire and inspiration from a diverse set of folk music traditions – New Orleans second line brass bands, European Klezmer, Balkan and Romani music, Brazilian Afro Bloc and Frevo traditions, as well as the passion and spirit of Mardi Gras and Carnival– these “honkers” all share a commitment to several core principles. Metaphorically speaking, they honk their horns for the same reasons motorists honk theirs: to arouse fellow travelers, to warn of danger, to celebrate milestones, and to just plain have fun. COMMITTEE
John Bell, Alison Earnhart, David Blank-Edelman, Trudi Cohen, Ken Field, Reebee Garofalo, Harris Gruman, Cecily Miller, Cherai Mills and Eric Sutman

🥁🥁It’s official!!! We are so excited to share the poster and T-shirt design for HONK!fest 2026. This year’s beautiful ar...
09/15/2026

🥁🥁It’s official!!! We are so excited to share the poster and T-shirt design for HONK!fest 2026. This year’s beautiful art is designed by Ruchika Madan. Lets take it to the street!

The HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands returns for another year of reclaiming the streets for horns, drums, and feet! This FREE 3-day festival will take place from October 9-11th.

P.S. If you are interested in helping our volunteer-led community with this year’s festival, we are in need of volunteers, donations, and hosts for visiting musicians. If you want to join in, reach out our website or link in bio.

Every October, hundreds of musicians travel from across the country and the world to fill Somerville’s streets with joyf...
09/13/2026

Every October, hundreds of musicians travel from across the country and the world to fill Somerville’s streets with joyful noise, and every year, our HONK! community is what puts a roof over their heads.

This year’s HONK! approaches and we need help! Indigenous People’s Day weekend, October 9-11 in Somerville. Got a spare room, couch, or floor to host some visiting band members for the weekend?

Please let us know what is possible for you this year. 
We appreciate you!

Survey can be found here or on our website link in bio.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oD4uY7hEql6ptboE-vK-EmlD5A9f2UQulrQ5emrW1RU/edit

"Davis Square is about to turn into an open-air dance floor again. "
09/09/2026

"Davis Square is about to turn into an open-air dance floor again. "

HONK! Festival hits Somerville and Cambridge next month with 30-plus activist brass bands — and it's all free.

"The three-day event will bring bands from across the country for a celebration of music, community and activism."
09/09/2026

"The three-day event will bring bands from across the country for a celebration of music, community and activism."

Bands ditch the stage and play among the crowds during this three-day music festival held just outside of Boston.

Is your community or activist organization interested in marching in this year’s HONK! Festival Parade? This beloved par...
09/09/2026

Is your community or activist organization interested in marching in this year’s HONK! Festival Parade? This beloved parade, viewed each year by thousands of people, will feature 20+ street bands from across the U.S., joined by many community groups and activist organizations like yours. The parade is on Sunday, October 11 at noon and goes from Davis Square, Somerville, to Harvard Square.

For more information and an application, email
[email protected]. Find HONK! Festival information at honkfest.org or our link in bio.

Photo by Greg Cook

Recently posted!!!: https://www.reddit.com/r/prked/s/J5mnm5JyWrHere are some hot tips about PARKING during HONK! Fest Su...
09/04/2026

Recently posted!!!: https://www.reddit.com/r/prked/s/J5mnm5JyWr
Here are some hot tips about PARKING during HONK! Fest Sunday, since, as those of you familiar with our neck of the woods, that can be a total nightmare. (Even when parking meters are not in effect on Sundays.) BUT remember, HONK! will always recommend that public trans, biking, walking, running, roller blading, sharing rides ... those are the more preferred and solid options to choose from instead.

Explore this post and more from the prked community

This year's HONK! Festival will be offering new opportunities for audience vocal participation, inspired by the Singing ...
08/25/2026

This year's HONK! Festival will be offering new opportunities for audience vocal participation, inspired by the Singing Resistance movement born out of Minneapolis shortly after the killing of Renee Good. The Singing Resistance in Minneapolis reminded us of the power of collective singing to unite and empower people's movements. Participants will have the opportunity at HONK! to learn some of the newest songs filling the streets. Voice can be everybody's instrument in this version of an activist "band." No experience needed!
https://linktr.ee/singingresistance
https://www.instagram.com/singingresistance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_Resistance

We sing to protect and care for our communities in the face of rising authoritarianism. We are a movement grounded in love, nonviolence, and solidarity.

"There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. But Honk! is a free Davis Square outdoor festival, on its final da...
08/22/2026

"There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. But Honk! is a free Davis Square outdoor festival, on its final day marching to Harvard Square."

Summer still has its hooks in us, and we’re thankful for it. There are a few late season fests to mention before we get to the main event. The Arcadia Folk Festival (Aug. 29) is held on the grounds of a nature reserve in Easthampton. Sounds groovy....

Address

Somerville, MA

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when HONK! Festival posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to HONK! Festival:

Shortcuts

Share