HONK! Festival to Convene Activist Street Bands Oct. 9-11
The 21st annual HONK! Festival, gathering activist street bands, will take place October 9-11 in Davis Square and Harvard Square. The event will focus on the theme of "No Justice No Peace."
Somerville, Massachusetts – The 21st annual HONK! Festival is set to bring together activist street bands for music and protest from October 9-11. Held across Davis Square and Harvard Square, the festival is free and open to all, with this year's theme emphasizing "No Justice No Peace."
Over 65 bands from across the United States applied to participate in the event, which has grown from an initiative started in Somerville into an international movement. HONK! is known for celebrating street bands that combine music with social activism, aiming to showcase artists using their work to promote social justice.
In addition to traditional street performances, the festival will feature a livestream of international bands on Saturday, October 10. Furthermore, "ArtHONK!" will offer public opportunities to engage in interactive art-making activities, alongside communal singing events inspired by the "Singing Resistance" movement.
The program also includes lantern-making workshops, parades, and band showcases. On Sunday, the "Reclaim the Streets for Horns, Bikes, and Feet" parade will bring the celebratory atmosphere to Harvard Square in conjunction with the city's Oktoberfest. The festival is organized by the HONK! Festival committee, composed of local activists and members of the Good Trouble Brass Band.