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SUMMER LIVE ARTS IN ARLINGTON!
Get ready for another lively, fantastic summer of live performances, in venues all over town!
Arlington PorchFest 2025

Photo by Tom Mahin

Saturday, June 21, 12 – 6pm
Arlington porches, storefronts, and more!
Arlington Porchfest, a grassroots community music festival, returns to our neighborhoods Saturday, June 21, 2025. Musicians play on front porches, and attendees enjoy lots of free music and local color as they walk and bike around the neighborhoods. It’s a great opportunity for local musicians to share their talents with their neighbors, and for residents to discover their neighborhoods anew! Visit Arlington PorchFest 2025 for all the details about where to find your favorite genre or performer, including an interactive map.

Note the deadline for porch hosts, performers, and visual artists to register for the event is Thursday, May 15, 2025.

GarageBand

Over 1,000 celebrate the launch of Live Arts Arlington's Garage Band performance series

Saturday, June 21, from 6pm to 8pm
Arlington Global Service Station, 334 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington
Get your motor running at Garage Band 2025, the Arlington Porchfest “after party”! Come out for free and family-friendly fun! Part music-fest, part dance party, GarageBand 2025 features the joyous Zydeco sounds of the acclaimed Squeezebox Stompers, who will have you up on your feet dancing! This year’s celebration features family-friendly additions including bead crafts, movement props, and some bubbles.
GarageBand is famous for bringing a family-friendly pop-up dance party vibe, and is a beloved celebration of community in an unusual venue, the Arlington Global Service Station. This event directly follows Porchfest!
Jam'n Java Open Mic

First Friday of every month, 7pm - 9:30pm
Donut Villa Brunch Club and Bar, 319 Broadway, Arlington
Listen to talented local performers at this free monthly event or sign up to perform! Food and beverages are available for purchase. Visit Jam’n Java Open Mic for more information, including the sign up form for performers.
Saturday Beer Garden at Jason Russell House

Saturday Beer Garden at Jason Russell House

June 7 to September 27, 2025, 2pm to 7pm
Jason Russell House, 7 Jason Street, Arlington
Join us every Saturday this summer for live music, food, beer, and lots of joy. Soak in the sounds of some of the area’s best bands playing live throughout the afternoon. Admission to the Beer Garden is free. Food and beverages are available for purchase, including brews from the local Arlington Brewing Company and a rotating lineup of food vendors serving up delicious bites.
The Beer Garden is open from 2pm to 7pm, with musical performances from 3pm to 6pm. Sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society. Email the Arlington Historical Society for more information or visit the Jason Russell House Beer Garden page here!
Summer Concert with Spajazzy

Thursdays at The Mill

Thursday, July 17, 2025, 6:30 pm
Old Schwamb Mill, 17 Mill Lane, Arlington, MA
Enjoy the jazz-fusion rhythms of Spajazzy, led by Tino D’Agostino, Director of Instrumental Music at Arlington High School.
2025 Summer Concert Series at Reservoir Beach

Alternate Thursdays, June 26 – August 21, 2025
Arlington Reservoir Beach, 210 Lowell Street, Arlington
Grab your lawn chair and head to the Arlington Reservoir for music and family fun. Free concerts are held every other Thursday night, with Friday as the rain date. Shows begin at 6pm. Food and beverages will be available from local beer and food vendors. The Beer Garden is open from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
This year’s musical lineup includes:
June 26: Coffee to Cocktails – Eclectic acoustic music
July 10:  Foo Topia – Foo Fighters tribute band
July 24: Jumpin’ Juba – Playing a mix of blues and rootsy rock & roll
August 7: Classic Groove  – A diverse repertoire from R&B to Top 40 to Latin
August 21: Coffee to Cocktails – Eclectic acoustic musicFor more information, visit the Arlington Recreation Thursday Concert Series page.

About Live Arts

Live Arts is a project funded by the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture. Begun as a pilot in 2019 in partnership with artists, Live Arts was designed to encourage public performance in the Town. The group invited diverse artists to share their expertise on sidewalks, parks, and plazas where people gather and enjoy outdoor entertainment. Those early years have sparked interest in live performances all over town, organized by many different organizations and venues. ArtsArlington is happy to shine a spotlight on the many ways live performances are invigorating our town.

About Busking in Arlington

Interested in busking in Arlington? Apply for a Street Performance Permit from the Town that is good for a year. Return it to the Select Board office at Town Hall with $12 application fee to receive a permit good for one full year. You’ll receive information about locations that allow street performances, including opportunities to be promoted as part of Live ArtsArlington. Artists are encouraged to “put out a hat!”

Support Live Arts in Arlington!

You can help support art and performances in public spaces in Arlington by making a tax-deductible donation to the Public Art Fund on the town website – just note your contribution is for Live Arts on the form. You can contact us via email to the Community Engagement Committee for more information or to join us in helping enliven our public spaces with music, art, dance, performance, etc.!