2026 Schedule Overview
HONK! is a free, family-friendly, grassroots festival!
All HONK! events listed below are FREE and open to the public.
Thursday, October 8th
Pre-HONK! Brass Band Blowout in Union Square, Somerville
The semi-official Pre-HONK performances return to Union Square!
See HONK! bands play at multiple locations in Union Square, both within walking distance!
Details to be posted soon.
Friday, October 9th
Lantern-making workshops
4:00 pm – 6:00pm, Hodgkins-Curtin Park, Holland Street between Paulina St. and Simpson Ave in Somerville
Free and open to the public. People of all ages will join Puppeteers Cooperative, Spontaneous Celebrations, and Extinction Rebellion to make their own lanterns, and then meet us in the park before parades step off at 6:30 pm. More info can be found here.
Lantern parades
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, stepping off from and returning to Hodgkins-Curtin Park, Somerville
These nighttime parades are small-scale processions, leaving from and returning to Hodgkins-Curtin Park and traversing the surrounding neighborhoods. We are inviting local artists and families to bring their own illuminations, and we also invite musicians to build lanterns, wear bike lights, glow sticks, any kind of blinking-glittering-glowing ornaments you like. More info can be found here.
Friday Night in Union Square, Somerville
Aeronaut
- 6:20-7:00pm: Brass Balagan
- 7:00-7:40pm: Party Band
- 7:40-8:20pm: Funkrust Brass Band
- 8:20-9:00pm: Undertow Brass Band
Bow Market
- 7:00-7:55pm: Brass Solidarity
- 8:00-8:55pm: All for One Brass Band
Saturday, October 10th
HONK! in Davis Square
Opening ceremonies at noon in Seven Hills Park.
Bands play all afternoon from 1pm to 9pm in locations around Davis Square rain or shine. Full schedule will be posted soon.
ArtHONK!
1pm – 5pm
We’re closing Elm Street to cars and turning it into a dynamic arena for interactive art making and activism. Please join in — work with our amazing HONK! artists to create something for yourself or for the Sunday Parade. Learn about some urgent issues with the grass roots volunteers and organizers working on community issues. Help amplify messages for positive change and activist causes with art! Full details will be posted soon.
Sunday, Oct 12th
The HONK! Parade
12pm – 2pm down Mass. Ave. from Davis Square to Harvard Square
Full info will be posted soon.
Sunday in Harvard Square
Performances on the Main Stage and other performance venues at Oktoberfest 2pm to 6pm.
