Drone footage by Gleb Budilovsky.
Dorchfest 2025 in numbers
11 mighty committee members
29 stages at 25 homes, 2 churches, 1 library, 1 public plaza
57 bands and 9 family hour performers paid $28K total
5 local food / beverage businesses (4 Dorchester-based businesses sold out!): Via Cannuccia, The Mix, House of Seven Cafe, Slushy Lady
3 business promotional collaborations: The Local Hand, Afternoon Creative, Chubbs
30+ day-of volunteers
1 street closed to car traffic
Almost $10K in individual donations
13 sponsors: Santander Bank, Amazon, Dorchester Reporter, Eastern Bank, Martin Richard Foundation, Trinity Financial, Scobie’s, Back to Life Chiropractic & Wellness, The Local Hand, MacKinnon & Co | COMPASS – Realtors, Noir Essence Salon, Revamp Training, Ronan 953
1 grant from the Boston Main Streets Foundation
12 features on local news channels and publications: WHDH (Channel 7), WCVB (Channel 5), WBUR, Dorchester Reporter (and other articles), Caught in Dot, Dorchester Post, Bay State Banner, Wicked Local, Boston.com, Universal Hub, Patch.com, Metrowest Daily
Dorchfest was founded in 2022 with the purpose of bringing a free and accessible festival of diverse musical acts to the Ashmont-Adams neighborhood of Dorchester. The festival occurs on the weekend of the historic Dorchester Day Parade and has grown each year. Last year, 3 thousand people arrived by train, bus, bicycle, car or on foot to enjoy the 45 bands that performed on 30 porches, yards, parking lots and patios throughout the neighborhood.
Dorchfest differs from other porchfest-style celebrations in one critical way: we pay our performers for the massive benefit they provide to our community and as a result, 85% of bands reapply each year. Through this model, we ensure that the performers who play at Dorchfest are high quality, diverse and enjoyable for the audience.
We thank you, our community, for making this event possible.
Dorchfest is organized by Greater Ashmont Main Street and the Ashmont Adams Neighborhood Association.
Committee Members
Elle Marrone | Erin Caldwell | Elana Gaines | Michaela Flatley | Myesha Slaughter | Crystal-Grace Sketers | Cindie Fadden | Gail Ravgiala | Lara Schkordoff | Andrea Light | Emmy Rainwalker | Julie Garvey
