Boulder is home to some fairly iconic music venues. From the Boulder Theater, with its Art Deco design and intimate ambiance, to the Chautauqua Auditorium, known for its open-air acoustics and stunning mountain backdrop, audiences have their pick of the finest settings when it comes to seeing a stellar concert in town. But there’s one venue in Boulder’s music scene that often goes unnoticed.
Cozy and intimate, this open-air hideaway exudes a laid-back vibe where music floats through the breeze, mingling with birdsong and the hum of insects. The stage — just a few feet wide — is framed by a simple wooden railing and shaded by old maple trees, making it ideal for an acoustic set. It’s an exclusive venue, too, only hosting music once a year; Any other day, attempting to visit could land you in trouble for trespassing.
This venue, of course, is a porch — or in the case of this year’s Mapleton Hill PorchFest, 38 porches, yards, front decks, and patios scattered across the beautiful Mapleton Hill neighborhood in central Boulder. For those who don’t know, Mapleton Hill PorchFest is essentially a free, family-friendly block party where local bands groove on well-tended front lawns and rickety old porches of some of Boulder’s most beautiful and historic homes. Porchfest returns Sunday, bringing the largest number of bands and porches in the history of the neighborhood festival, according to porchfest organizer Kathy Spear.
“We have 56 bands and 38 porches this year.