How do tickets work for the Back Porch Festival?

Your weekend Ramble Pass or VIP ticket will be exchanged for a Back Porch Festival button which is your entrance pass to all Back Porch shows with the exception of the three evening shows at the Academy Of Music (Neil Young Tribute, Back Porch Bluegrass Spectacular and Lucinda Williams). You must be wearing your button to enter the venues. Don't lose that button! Buttons cannot be replaced if lost.

How do I buy tickets for the evening shows at the Academy?

Tickets for the three evening shows are available at the Academy Of Music box office online at www.aomtheater.com, or in person during box office hours. All evening show tickets are reserved seats.

How do I buy a Ramble Pass?

Ramble Passes are available on line at www.backporchfest.com and will be sold at our box office locations during box office hours if still available. If you bought your Ramble Pass online, go to one of our three box office locations (Thornes Market, The Academy Of Music and 33 Hawley) and pick up your buttons.

Back Porch Festival box office locations and hours

  • Tuesday 3/4 – The Iron Horse, 12-5

  • Wednesday 3/5 – The Iron Horse, 12-5

  • Thursday 3/6 –The Iron Horse, 12-5

  • Friday 3/7 – Thornes, 3pm - 8pm • 33 Hawley,  5pm - 9pm • Academy, 5pm - 8pm

  • Saturday 3/8 – Thornes, 12pm - 7pm • 33 Hawley, 3pm - 6pm • Academy  1pm - 7pm

  • Sunday 3/9 – Academy, 12pm - 3pm • The Iron Horse, 9:30am-12pm

VIP tickets must be picked up at The Iron Horse Tues-Thurs OR at The Academy throughout the weekend.

I bought a VIP Weekend Pass.  How do I pick up my tickets and button?

VIP ticket holders can pick up their tickets and buttons at the Academy Of Music box office only during box office hours, Friday-Sunday. Premium ticket holders will be allowed early admission to the afternoon shows at the Academy Of Music. VIP ticket holders are also guaranteed admission to all Iron Horse shows and seating in the balcony.  All other shows are first come, first served.

Are Ramble Pass holders guaranteed admission to all performances?

No – there are no reserved seats at the Back Porch Ramble. All shows are general admission and admission is first come, first served. The venues will be cleared after each performance to  allow for a new audience. Some artists will perform two sets during the festival to raise your chance of seeing your favorites. If there is an artist that you want to see in a small venue, arrive early and be prepared to stand in line.

Pro tip:  The afternoon shows at the Academy Of Music always have room and minimal lines for admission.

Can I share my Ramble pass with a friend?

Yes, the Back Porch Festival buttons are sharable. However, you must be wearing a button to gain admittance to festival venues. Only one admittance per button.

Can I bring in outside food and drink into the venues?

The only venue that allows this is The Parlor Room. All other venues do not allow outside food and drink. There will be alcohol sales at The Academy Of Music, Iron Horse, 33 Hawley, Progression Brewery and Bishop's Lounge.

Are there any free events at the festival that don't require a ticket or a button for admission?

Yes, there are several. They include the Sunday morning Back Porch Radio broadcast from the Iron Horse, The Unamericana gallery and performances at Memorial Hall all weekend, music at Ana Bandeira Cafe on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and the Americana jam session Sunday at the Wurst Haus. 

All of these events are open to the public as capacity allows. 

Is there free admission for kids?

All attendees need a festival button with the exception of kids 10 and under. Some of the festival venues feature alcohol service and are not appropriate for children. Several venues have limited seating, which is difficult for families with small children. 

Free admission for kids applies only to the Ramble Pass shows, not the evening shows at the Academy Of Music.

Accessibility

Specific accommodations may vary by venue. If you have accessibility needs, please inform a volunteer or venue manager upon arrival, and they will assist you to the best of their ability.

Seating: Bishop's Lounge, 33 Hawley, and The Iron Horse are standing-only venues for Ramble Pass holders. Progression Brewery has limited seating, mostly consisting of tall barstools. The Parlor Room, The Academy of Music, and The Unitarian Society provide seated shows.

Capacity & Lines: Entry is first-come, first-served, which may result in wait times outside venues between sets if a venue reaches capacity or is transitioning between events. All Ramble Pass holders must wait in line for entry to each venue.

The Parlor Room Entrance: The main entrance requires a multi-step walk-up. If you need an alternative, please notify a volunteer or house manager before doors open, and they will assist with access via the back entrance, which has a single step and a fold-out ramp available as needed.

Contact: For specific accessibility inquiries prior to the start of the festival, please email accessibility@parlorroom.org.

How can I find the schedule and a venue map?  

There will be printed schedules with a map available at all box office locations during the festival.  The on-line schedule is available here.

Is there Festival merchandise available?

Yes! Merch is available at:

  • Assemble (164 Main Street) - our offical merch shop.

  • The Iron Horse (18 Center Street)

  • Academy of Music (274 Main Street) 

Restrooms

Some, but not all venues have bathrooms for attending audience members.

Thornes Marketplace has public bathrooms during business hours.

The Parlor Room, Unitarian Society, and Memorial Hall do not have public restrooms

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS