News
WCNY and WSKG to Celebrate Ithaca’s Porchfest with Documentary Screening and Block Party
by
August 17, 2026
WCNY, Central New York’s public communications organization, in partnership with WSKG in Binghamton, NY, will host the Porchfest Screening & Block Party on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 5-8 p.m. at the State Theatre of Ithaca.
The free community event begins at 5 p.m. with an outdoor block party on the 100 block of State Street, featuring live music, food trucks, and community fun. At 6 p.m., the celebration will continue inside the State Theatre of Ithaca with a screening of WCNY’s new half-hour documentary, “Porchfest: Neighbor to Neighbor, Song to Song.”
The documentary explores the history and evolution of Porchfest, a celebration of community through music that began on the porches of Ithaca’s Fall Creek and Northside neighborhoods in 2007. What started as a neighborhood gathering has grown into a movement that has spread across the country and around the world.
“’Porchfest: Neighbor to Neighbor, Song to Song’ captures the spirit of what makes Porchfest so special, the way music brings people together and transforms neighborhoods into vibrant, welcoming communities,” said Mitch Gelman, president and CEO of WCNY.
“We’re excited to share this story on the big screen and celebrate the people, music and community that have helped Porchfest grow from a neighborhood gathering in Ithaca into a movement that continues to inspire communities around the world,” said Chris DiRienzo, interim president and CEO of WSKG.
Following the screening, the documentary will premiere on WCNY and WSKG on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information and to register, visit porchfestblockparty.eventbrite.com.
For media inquiries, please contact Lauren Easton at lauren.easton@wcny.org or (585) 797-4314.
About WCNY
WCNY was founded in 1965 as The Educational Television Council of Central New York. Today, it is a public communications organization that produces content across multiple platforms, including television and radio, dynamic web and targeted email content, the WCNY CONNECT magazine, and social media. Through its media platforms, in-person and virtual events, WCNY brings local coverage and educational services to Central New Yorkers. WCNY operates four digital, pledge-free broadcast channels and three radio stations. Classic FM is one of the few radio stations in the world dedicated to locally programmed classical music, and Pulso Central is Central New York’s first Spanish-language radio station.
About WSKG
WSKG is the PBS and NPR affiliate for twenty-one counties across New York’s Southern Tier and Northern Pennsylvania, providing news, arts and culture, and classical music on broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. Founded as the Southern Tier Educational Television Association in 1961, WSKG continues to offer educational resources and outreach along with a slate of in-person and virtual events.
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