WestPorch 2026, see you on the porch.

In July 2020, when the world felt uncertain and disconnected, John Pringle and Trevor Connel of Westport came together with a simple idea, to bring people back together through music, creativity, and community. The spark came from something small but meaningful, a sign spotted on a local musician’s porch: “Shawn McCullough.”  a reminder that music was still here, waiting. That simple moment helped ignite what would become WestPorch.

What started as a grassroots porch gathering, neighbours sharing songs, stories, and space quickly grew beyond anything anyone could organize or control. It wasn’t built as a festival in the traditional sense, but as a spark. Something that could live anywhere, belong to anyone, and happen without permission.

Over the years, WestPorch has become a tradition in Westport, Ontario, not because it was managed, but because people showed up. Porches turned into stages, streets filled with life, and the community shaped it into something uniquely its own.

In 2025, a new group stepped forward to carry the spirit forward, presenting the event in their own way and another chapter in an ever-evolving story was born.

Because WestPorch was never meant to be about profit, ego, or any one person or organization. It is a shared idea, a reminder that something real happens when people come together without agendas.

So whether you’ve been there since the beginning or you’re just discovering it now, bring a chair, bring your people, bring your porch spirit and we’ll see you on the porch.