HONK! Festival

08/25/2026

This year's HONK! Festival will be offering new opportunities for audience vocal participation, inspired by the Singing Resistance movement born out of Minneapolis shortly after the killing of Renee Good. The Singing Resistance in Minneapolis reminded us of the power of collective singing to unite and empower people's movements. Participants will have the opportunity at HONK! to learn some of the newest songs filling the streets. Voice can be everybody's instrument in this version of an activist "band." No experience needed!
https://linktr.ee/singingresistance
https://www.instagram.com/singingresistance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_Resistance

We sing to protect and care for our communities in the face of rising authoritarianism. We are a movement grounded in love, nonviolence, and solidarity.

08/22/2026

"There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. But Honk! is a free Davis Square outdoor festival, on its final day marching to Harvard Square."

Summer still has its hooks in us, and we’re thankful for it. There are a few late season fests to mention before we get to the main event. The Arcadia Folk Festival (Aug. 29) is held on the grounds of a nature reserve in Easthampton. Sounds groovy....

08/18/2026

Greetings HONK! Festival fans,
The roster of 33 (!) bands who will be participating this year in Somerville MA -- plus a pick-up "Band Together" opportunity -- is now up. Check them all out at https://honkfest.org/2026-festival/bands-2026/
Time to get excited, we say!
[Those of you interested in participating in Band Together, let us know via the form found at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIsE41f-vcViudMvCPOPJ8KmPzaaxjz0ym4tylJZbgMO8RIg/viewform .]

08/08/2026

ArtHONK! open house

Want some help shaping your ArtHONK project? Wondering how to bring your idea to life? Have some questions about the festival or the application? We would love to help!

Please join us for an open conversation on Google Meet on Sun. Aug. 9th at 6pm where we can answer questions, provide guidance, and brainstorm project ideas with you. We are here to support you in bringing your art to HONK!

ArtHONK! open house
Sunday Aug 9 • 6:00 – 7:30PM • View details & RSVP https://calendar.app.google/Acyq8M5aPni6fLJj8

08/02/2026

"From film fests to What the Fluff?, don’t miss these 14 fun festivals" ... including ... :

HONK!
"Activist brass bands from across the country converge in Davis Square for three days every fall (October 9-11 in 2026), bringing their oompah, funk, and sass from dawn to dusk. The street party, which embraces a New Orleans second line tradition, is free, family-friendly, and totally reimagines public spaces in a way that feels perfectly Camberville. There are no stages, no sound systems — just pockets of the neighborhood filled with music and dancing all day long."

https://www.bostonglobe.com/resizer/v2/7GM6C4URTZUX3HMNK5QLJPMQV4.jpg?auth=8ea32d954d4b5945e0bf4187a1ffe121f5ee8f54b01f2f15b610cb1cdcf0fd0c

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/04/magazine/enjoy-best-cultural-festivals/?et_rid=698366137&s_campaign=globemag:newsletter

08/02/2026

Call for ArtHONK!

The ArtHONK! has the same mission as Honk! - take over the streets and advocate for issues that will benefit the community. Instead of music, ArtHONK! uses art to advocate for causes.

ArtHONK! (https://honkfest.org/arthonk/) includes installations and hands-on activities for all those passing by. It is a chance for local artists, activists, and community groups to share their ideas, concerns, images, words, creations, and strategies for a better world with the general public.

We seek artists, activists, and activist groups to send in their application to be included in ArtHONK! 2026, the form to submit proposal is here:
https://forms.gle/UdKEacc2pRAh4QTCA

Applications are due by Saturday August 15th, 2026. Final selection and notification will be sent by September 1st.

Want some help shaping your ArtHONK project?

Wondering how to bring your idea to life? Have some questions about the festival or the application? We would love to help!

Please join us for an open conversation on Google Meet on Sun. Aug. 9th at 6pm where we can answer questions, provide guidance, and brainstorm project ideas with you. We are here to support you in bringing your art to HONK!
ArtHONK! open house

Sunday Aug 9 • 6:00 - 7:30PM

View details & RSVP
https://calendar.app.google/Acyq8M5aPni6fLJj8

We are also available to schedule one-on-one conversations with you if this time frame does not work for you. Or we can answer some questions over email; just let us know how we can be of support and we would love to help. ArtHONK cannot happen without artists like you, but you do not carry the load alone. Together let's make it an easy lift!

03/30/2026

📣 Attention, activist street bands!

The applications for this year's HONK! Festival in Somerville, MA are now open!

If your band would like to be considered for this year's festival, just follow the application link in our Instagram bio to let us know.

This year's festival dates will be October 8-11.

We look forward to HONKing with you all again!

📯❤️

10/23/2025

"The parade was the conclusion to Honk! Festival of Activist Street Bands, a three-day event celebrating different forms of art for activism, featuring concerts, dance parties and banner and lantern making. "

On Sunday, Oct. 12, local activist organizations and activist street bands from across the country filled Harvard Square for a spectacular parade to celebrate 20 years of street music activism.