HONK! Festival 🎺

HONK! Festival is an annual gathering of activist street bands that fills the streets of Somerville with brass, percussion, dancing, costumes, and spontaneous performances.
The festival began in Somerville in 2006 and has since inspired similar HONK! gatherings around the world. This year, 35 U.S. street bands are expected to participate, with performances happening throughout Davis Square and the surrounding area.

The Plan
This afternoon will be a fluid, open-ended exploration rather than a tightly scheduled event.

• 1:00 PM: We’ll gather in Davis Square. (Meeting point: outside the Davis Square T station main entrance on College Ave).
• 1:15 PM – 5:00 PM: We’ll wander the square together, moving between band sets, taking in the art and performances up close, and letting curiosity guide where we head next.
• 5:00 PM Onward (Optional): The official Meetup wraps up around 5:00 PM, but anyone wanting to stay longer can keep exploring or grab food/drinks nearby to continue the conversation.

What to Expect
Unlike traditional concerts, HONK! takes place directly in public spaces. Bands perform in the middle of streets and squares rather than on elevated stages, making the audience an active part of the energy. Expect plenty of room to discover unexpected sounds, dance, and watch public spaces completely transform.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Footwear: Wear comfortable walking shoes—we will be on our feet exploring.
• Getting There: Public transit is strongly recommended! Take the MBTA Red Line to Davis Square or catch a local bus. Street parking in the square will be closed or extremely limited.
• Finding the Group: I will post updates in the Meetup event chat on the day of the event.

Official festival website: https://honkfest.org/about/