When organizers of Sanford Porchfest announced last October that the popular outdoor music festival would go “on hiatus” in 2026, there was an outpouring of support from the community.
While some were saddened to hear the news, many community members took to Facebook to express their gratitude for the event and thank the volunteers who put in countless hours each year to put on the festival. Last December, a new idea emerged to fill the void left by Porchfest’s cancellation while also raising funds for the organization.
Joshua Snyder, lead singer of the Central Florida band The Smoking Jackets, approached Sanford Main Street about hosting a fundraiser with live music for Porchfest.
“He had an idea. He thought, ‘What if we did a mini version of Porchfest?'” said Sanford Main Street Executive Director Dan Ping. “Instead of holding it on a porch in the historic district, we will hold it at four downtown music venues: Toffee’s, Ace Cafe, The Alley and West End Live.”
After “save date” “Sanford ❤️s Porchfest” event publicly announced, with more downtown businesses participating And I asked how I could help.
“This was a big wave of businesses downtown wanting to be a part of this,” Ping said. “It’s grown to 19 different venues. We thought it would probably be 12 musical acts, but then it grew to over 60.”
Each business was required to donate at least $500 to the Porchfest Foundation to support the event, which was held on February 28, when the 9th annual festival would have been held. As a result, $22,000 was raised to support the nonprofit Sanford Porchfest Foundation.
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Crowds gather at the “Producer’s Porch” at 101 E. 10th Street during Sanford Porchfest in downtown Sanford on Saturday, February 22, 2020. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
This funding will strengthen the festival for participants and musicians, help organizations offset rising costs, and help strengthen the nonprofit’s future.
Sanford Porchfest is an entirely volunteer-run organization, including musicians who donate their time and talent, so there is no staffing or production overhead. But the event faces increased costs associated with closing roads, installing portable toilets, hiring police and ensuring the safety of participants and residents.
“We rely heavily on sponsors and partnerships to cover the costs of the actual event,” said Shelley Allen, one of the four women who co-founded Sanford Porchfest. “100% of everything brought in on the day will be donated to the community, including merchandise, merchandise, art auctions, and public donations.”
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Sam Pearson, 9, right, rushes to watch a live performance alongside his father, Joshua Pearson (pulling the wagon), during the 2020 Sanford Porchfest in downtown Sanford. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
To date, Sanford Porchfest has raised more than $280,000 to support youth-focused art programs, art scholarships, and tuition for students in need in Seminole County.
Allen said the decision to cancel the 2026 tournament was not made lightly by the team. The event has grown from about 600 attendees and 40 bands in 2018 to 35,000 attendees and more than 70 bands playing on 18 porches in 2025.
“As events continue to grow in popularity, our neighborhoods are not expanding,” she said. “We needed a little more time to step back and have the necessary conversations about, ‘How can we continue this event in a sustainable and safe way?'”
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Crowds wait along Palmetto Avenue during the 2020 Sanford Porchfest in downtown Sanford. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
When Sanford Main Street stepped in to help host a fundraising event this year, it not only helped the Porchfest organization, but also benefited Sanford businesses.
“This fundraiser helped the businesses that were counting on the day’s proceeds, and it also helped the musicians who were booked and prepared to perform that day,” Allen said. “We put a spotlight on what makes Sanford Sanford and the people behind it.”
As Sanford Porchfest continues to chart its future, event organizers are beginning to look for sponsors for the 10th annual event in 2027. For information on how to participate, visit sanfordporchfest.org.
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