Spontaneous Order: PorcFest 2026
| The Porcupine Post Newsletter Tuesday, April 14, 2026  A spring weekend in Carroll County. Photo by Julie Despres. Hon. Eric Brakey Free State Project, Executive Director Some big news this week. Here are a few things we are reporting on in this week’s Porcupine Post: An Experiment in Spontaneous Order — PorcFest XXIII is moving forward as scheduled (with a few changes). FSP Board Elects a New Chairman — Please welcome Séamas Ó Scalaidhe to this new role— a longtime FSP participant, successful financial advisor, past FSP Treasurer, and past board member for the NH Liberty Alliance. Visit this Spring and Summer — Come see what we’re building in the Free State. A Porcupine Patron Update — Thank you to the now over 300 Porcupine Patrons that fund our year-round mission. Become a patron! These weekly FSP newsletters are often long because a lot is happening in the Free State. Treat it like a Sunday paper and skip ahead to whatever interests you. PorcFest XXIII: Spontaneous Order Porcupines are persistent creatures — and that is why PorcFest will go on as scheduled this June 21-28, 2026. I invite every liberty lover in the world to join us in New Hampshire to experience life in the Free State!For 23 years, the Porcupine Freedom Festival has taken place — growing in size and reputation — here in the Free State of New Hampshire. Nothing has ever stopped us. Even during totalitarian lockdowns of 2020, PorcFest was the only large-scale libertarian event in the world to go on as scheduled. This year, however, we have been faced with a unique challenge: our freedom festival has outgrown our historic venue and we are not able to return. Despite an extensive search, we were unable to find a single campground or alternate venue to accommodate the size and the level of freedom we expect from this festival. I want to thank Carla Gericke for stepping up at the last minute to pioneer a new model to ensure the festival continued uninterrupted — fully decentralized across the state and based upon the efforts of our entire community to create programming. Recently, however, Carla stepped back from this and other roles, passing responsibility for the festival to me as the FSP Executive Director. Last week, I asked for feedback from our community for what to do and how to proceed. Thank you to all who shared feedback before I made this decision.  There will be, however, a few changes to how I am overseeing this festival. Here are the basics: “Spontaneous Order” — To capture the fully decentralized and bottom-up nature of this year’s experiment, we are rebranding as “PorcFest XXIII: Spontaneous Order.” The official Free State Project will not be putting on any official programming. All events will be driven by Free State participants and clubhouses across the state. FSP as the PorcFest Community Bulletin Board — All participating venues are encouraged to use our digital infrastructure, including our PorcFest calendar and Free State Forum, to discuss and promote the events they are offering through the week. To participate: (1) Check the PorcFest Calendar to learn about events as they are scheduled. For event organizers: add your events! (Please note that the PorcFest website is still being updated to reflect these changes.) (2) Register for your Porcupine Passport and join the discussion on all things PorcFest. We will also be promoting participating venues and events through all of our communications channels, including this newsletter, podcasts, and social media. Free Tickets! — To ensure our venues have the opportunity to cover their own costs: (1) every participating venue is free to charge admission to attendees as they see fit, and (2) the FSP will remove the cost of tickets to PorcFest 2026 If you have already purchased a ticket, you may contact PorcFest@FSP.org to request a full refund — anytime between now and the beginning of the festival on June 21. (Any unclaimed refunds after that date will be considered a donation to the Free State Project.) Additionally, we are cancelling the $10,000 prize that was to be raffled off to ticket holders on the basis of visiting various venues across the state. Please keep in mind that this is a community-driven experiment in spontaneous order. This year’s week-long festival will be what we all make of it — as hosts, content creators, and participants — and I am grateful to all venues building events for this summer’s Porcupine Freedom Festival. To highlight one example of spontaneous order in action, I want to tell you about the Family Freedom Fest Field Day. Hosted by our friends at Latitude Learning on June 22, 2026 at Pawtuckaway State Park, they are billing their event as “The PorcFest Experience — For Families.” According to their website: “This is the day your kids have been waiting for — boffer battles with their best friends, dodgeball and kickball on the field, a mock legislature where they run the show, and Humans vs. Zombies across the park. It’s the PorcFest spirit, sized for families.”After the field day wraps at 4 PM, the evening kicks off at Latitude with an 80s Neon Groove poker tournament and dance party.” Click Here to Register to the Family Freedom Fest Field Day. There is much more to come as we move ahead.Please continue reading this newsletter each week, checking the PorcFest calendar, and participating in conversation on the Free State Forum. FSP Board Elects A New Chairman  On Monday, the Free State Project Board of Directors elected a new Chairman: Séamas Ó Scalaidhe — a longtime FSP participant, successful financial advisor, past FSP Treasurer, and past board member for the NH Liberty Alliance. As a New York City management consultant many years ago, Séamas helped companies decide where to locate their operations. In his work, he discovered the Free State Project and was impressed by the process and reasoning the effort put forward. That’s why Séamas joined the movement — participating as a mover and financial donor before retiring from paid employment and serving as FSP treasurer and board director (2011 – 2016). From 2019 to 2023, Séamas served as treasurer and board member for the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance. He returned to the FSP board in 2025. When not doing volunteer work, Séamas manages investments and philanthropic endeavors, reads, and pursues a variety of interests including: hiking, skiing, and physical training. Speaking on his new role, Chairman Ó Scalaidhe says: “When I rejoined the Free State Project board a year ago it was not my intention to serve as Chairman. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the confidence of my fellow board members in electing me and it highlights a reason that freedom-loving people should move to New Hampshire. This reason is that almost all of our best activists became successful after moving to New Hampshire – they got here first and then forged their path. “If you are contemplating a move to New Hampshire please move now and figure out how to contribute when you arrive. You will have many opportunities and some, as this one is for me, will likely be unanticipated. If we can accomplish the goal of concentrating libertarians in New Hampshire I will consider my Chairmanship a success.” Reasons to Visit New Hampshire PorcFest is not the only reason to visit the Free State.Free State communities and friends of the Free State are hosting events every single week of the year, so check out our “NH Liberty Calendar” to find countless reasons to visit. Additionally, read below for several events we are highlighting for the spring and summer. NH Liberty Calendar Plan Your Porcupine Vacation Be sure to check out our friends at the Independence Inn — and ask about a “Porcupine Vacation” for up to 50% off your stay.Free Stater owned and operated, the Independence Inn mission includes helping more liberty lovers visit and explore New Hampshire. Any week of the year, come for a visit and they can guide you to Free State events, across five different communities, all within a one-hour drive.The Independence Inn is a sponsor of the Porcupine Post newsletter and Porcupine Report podcast. April 2026 254 years ago in Weare, NH, a few dozen men effectively started the American Revolution with the first organized act of rebellion against the crown. On April 18th, join our friends at Americans for Prosperity – New Hampshire for a celebration of the anniversary of this rebellion, along with our nation’s 250th year of independence! Attendees of all ages are welcome, but no dogs are allowed. Click here to RSVP and for more details. July 2026 The third annual FreedomPalooza at Chris & Jennifer’s farm will be bigger than ever! Live music, workshops, talks, beer, camping, and more! If camping on a farm in northern NH while hanging out with old and new friends, debating politics, attending homesteading workshops and homeschooling talks, drinking locally crafted beer, watching kids explore nature, and listening to awesome live music sounds like a good time, then you have found your favorite event of the year! FreedomPalooza started as a weekend celebration of good music and is expanding this year to more days, more activities, more campfires, and more fun that you don’t want to miss! Space is limited, so be sure to get tickets before they sell out! August 2026 Free Staters are setting sail aboard the Tom Woods Cruise this August 22 – 29. Hosted by Friend of the Free State, Tom Woods, this cruise will depart from Boston, Massachusetts — sailing up the New England and Canadian coastlines with a journey down the St. Laurence River — and make its final port of call in Quebec City. Included in this cruise: – Large-scale games, hosted by Tom, that have everyone in stitches. – No boring lectures on the Nonaggression Principle — instead, great talks from Scott Horton, Clint Russell, and others. – Delicious dinners with friends you haven’t met yet. – Exciting excursions on shore with Tom Woods. While this cruise will not stop in New Hampshire, this is a wonderful opportunity for Free Staters to mix with outside liberty lovers (who could become future Free Staters, like Tom Woods himself). I will be aboard, along with Chris Lopez (FSP Engagement Director) and other participants from the Free State community. We hope to spend the week with you at sea! Click here for more information and to register for the Tom Woods Cruise. Be sure to check our new FSP introduction video: “Live Free or Die — Start your Journey with the Free State Project.” Thank you to FSP Video Strategist Reinita Susman. Thank you to our Porcupine Patrons!  If you believe in our mission to build a liberty homeland in New Hampshire, I’d like to ask you to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project. For just $10/month, you can support our year-round efforts to build “Liberty in Our Lifetime.” Additionally, you will receive exclusive patron benefits, including our quarterly print newsletter, access to our private Signal group, and perks at all FSP events. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations to the Free State Project are tax-deductible. We welcome donations in dollars, cryptocurrency, and other forms. Can I count you in as a Porcupine Patron?  Porcupine Patron Pin. In addition to other fantastic benefits, every Porcupine Patron of the Free State Project receives this “Porcupine Patron Pin.” These pins are not just for show! Patron pins grant access to exclusive FSP event perks, including VIP rooms, patron-only events, and courtesy drink tickets. Click here to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project. It is my honor to serve as Executive Director of the FSP. Please read on for more of our weekly newsletter from the Free State, prepared with assistance from our Communications Director, Mahgdalen Rose. For Liberty! Hon. Eric Brakey Executive Director Free State Project  MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Recurring Free State Events New Mover Potluck Parties! Manchester – First FridayNorth Country – Third SaturdayUpper Valley – First Saturday Local Meetups! Bedford – weekly, Tuesdays Plymouth – semi-monthly, Wednesdays Seacoast – weekly, Thursdays (changes town) Upper Valley – monthly, fourth Tuesday Nashua – weekly, Sundays Lakes – monthly, third Saturday Ossipee – monthly, second Sunday Madison – Monthly, second Saturday and third Tuesday Grafton – Monthly, second Saturday Keene – weekly, Sundays Lower Valley – monthly, third Friday This is only a small sample of what’s going on in the Free State! Recurring topical events include agorism, family play time, range shooting, and crypto. Find upcoming events across the state on our NH Liberty Calendar. NH Liberty Calendar Free State Voices Porcupine Report #107: “An Era Defining Leader and the Future of the Free State” Eric reflects on the continued growth and evolution of the Free State movement, highlighting the steady influx of new movers and the strong sense of community that continues to draw people in. He also shares a major leadership update as longtime figure Carla Gericke steps back after years of shaping the movement, recognizing her significant contributions to the movement. He discusses the future of PorcFest as the event faces changes, and touches on the importance of community-building traditions like welcome efforts and local gatherings. It’s a look at the evolution of the Free State and the possibilities ahead. Click to watch the full episode. 2026 NH Liberty Forum. Be sure to check out our recently released videos of presentations that took place at this conference for freedom builders. Across FSP social media, we are publishing one video each day until all content is released. Click here for all LF26 videos. Click to read the full Op-ed  Have you ordered your copy yet? FSP Director Eric Brakey published his first book — a pithy door-knocking guide of 13 rules for liberty candidates running for local office. This is a must-have for anyone who wants to win at the door.All proceeds benefit the Free State Project. Click here to order a copy. News from the Free State Seacoast Online: Portsmouth restaurateur plans new bistro at former District site Seacoast Online: Boston Marathon 2026: All 89 Seacoast runners with fastest, oldest, youngest Keene Sentinel: New Hampshire is quietly collaborating with nearby states on best health practices Union Leader: Jason Sorens: School aid formula punishes success and rewards poor governance Laconia Daily Sun: 10 Inter-Lakes students qualify for Future Business Leaders national competition NH Bulletin: New Hampshire has a ‘quiet’ new voting restriction, but the intent is loud and clear Seacoast Online: 5 ideas for things to do in New Hampshire during Spring Break 2026 NH Bulletin: Republicans advance new version of open enrollment, minus the tuition costs Rochester Post: New Hampshire Has One of the Lowest Tax Burdens in the Nation National Geographic: Why spring is the best time to visit New Hampshire’s White Mountains As Seen in the Free State  A Puppy’s First Spring. Stoa — FSP Director Eric Brakey’s newly adopted five-month old puppy — enjoys a beautiful day her first spring in Dover, New Hampshire. (Photo by Eric Brakey.) Even Our Cats Dream of the Outdoors. A Puppy’s First Spring. Emerald — the cat of FSP participant and local artist Franklin Einspruch — longs for the beautiful day outside in the Free State. (Photo by Franklin Einspruch.) Spring Continues Emerging. We can see it in our gardens: spring has arrived. (Photo by Olga Sorens.)Upcoming Events Tuesday, April 14th Seabrook, 8am-9 – Weekly Patriot Breakfast – A weekly social meeting of NH Patriots, think traditional Constitutional Republican. Hosted by Jude. (Linda’s Breakfast & Lunch Place, 920 Lafayette Road, Seabrook) Bedford, 4pm-8 – Taproom Tuesday at Murphy’s Carriage House – Come meet fellow liberty lovers at our weekly event! $5 drafts & wine and $10 cocktails & appetizers all night! Please invite others! Hosted by Bill & Gail. (Murphy’s Taproom & Carriage House, 393 State Rte 101, Bedford) Wednesday, April 15th Lancaster, 8:30am-10:30 – North Country US History Class – Geared toward teenagers & adults, this United States History is a full survey course designed to help students think critically about history, engage with primary sources, and develop strong historical arguments. Free for The ‘Pine members ($5 donation for non-members). Course taught by NH State Rep Calvin Beaulier. (the Pine, 70 Main St, Lancaster) Merrimack, 6pm-8 – Merrimack Crypto Meetup – CryptoCanal is finally expanding across the pond to the Portsmouth’s – USA tech hub! We host monthly meetups for both savvy devs and crypto-curious. Whether you have questions about crypto, need a co-founder for your startup, or just want to meet like-minded folks, you (and your family!) are welcome to come. SIGN UP TODAY! Hosted by Joël Valenzuela. (Able Ebeneezer Brewing Co, 31 Columbia Cir, Merrimack) YouTube 7pm-8 – FSP Porcupine Report – Free State Project Executive Director Eric Brakey sits down every week to interview the movers and shakers of New Hampshire. Join us on YouTube! Hosted by Eric Brakey. Thursday, April 16thManchester, 4pm-6 – Sound Money – The goal of the group is to create a parallel economy in NH that transacts in Gold and Silver Payment. Currently offering bi-weekly Sound Money Business Networking designed to overcome Gresham’s law with quality referrals for business owners and sales professionals. Hosted by John Nelson. (1800 Elm St, Manchester, Second Floor Conference Room) Manchester, 6pm-8 – FSP Volunteer Party – This month we will focus on folks who have signed up with the FSP this year by giving them a call. We want to help them plan their next steps, encourage them to visit again, and to share your moving tips! Please bring your phone for making calls, a laptop or tablet for data entry & your favorite pen. Snacks provided! Hosted by Chris Lopez. (the Quill, 131 Amory St, Manchester) Manchester, 6pm-11 – Arts & Crafts Club – Come join our new Art/crafting club! Bring your current project or just to hang out and talk to other makers! Byob and snacks to share if you like! Supervised children are welcome! Hosted by Lady Jane. (the Quill, 131 Amory St, Manchester) Rochester 6pm-9 – Rochester Liberty Outreach Meetup – Are you tired of big government? Just want to live free? You’ll be in good company at our weekly liberty meetups every Thursday night. The goal of these meetups is to provide a place for those interested in the philosophy of liberty to learn more and get involved in our vibrant community of families, entrepreneurs, and activists. It’s all about good ideas, good people, and good eats. So come on down! Hosted by Seamus Casey. (Revolution Taproom & Grill, 61 N Main St, Rochester) Friday, April 17th Hillsboro, 10am-12pm – Muddy Buddies – Join us for sensory-rich, curiosity-led outdoor play centered around our one-of-a-kind mud kitchen playscape. Connect with a warm community of parents while the little ones stir, scoop, squish and splash to their hearts’ content. Year-round, all weather. $20/child suggested exchange. Hosted by Lauren. (Rooted Free, 1040 Old Hillsboro Rd, Henniker) Manchester, 12pm-1 – Liberty Power Hour – a new weekly NHLA event built for serious liberty activists and legislators who want real briefings and real action, not fluff. Networking and organizing every week to effectively advance freedom in NH. Lunch provided by AFP, please RSVP for ordering purposes. Hosted by Pedro & Shawn. (AFP Office, 8025 S. Willow, Manchester) Acworth, 6pm-9 – Lower Valley Meetup – Lower Valley brings back the potlucks, and this month is happening Top of the Hill, Acworth! Patty and Gerd are relatively new movers all the way from Germany. They are graciously opening their home to us for our April get together. Let’s have a strong turnout as a warm welcome to our new friends! Hosted by Shanna Gary. (17 Lynn Hill Rd, Acworth) Manchester, 6:30pm-7:30 – Manchester Monthly Shoot – Recurring every third Friday in Manchester! Regular rate is $25 per hour; use promo code #FSP5 for a $5 discount! Hosted by James. (Manchester Firing Line Range, 2540 Brown Ave, Manchester) Saturday, April 18th Weare, 12pm-3 – AFP-NH Pine Tree Riot – 254 years ago in Weare, NH, a few dozen men effectively started the American Revolution with the first organized act of rebellion against the crown. Join Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire as we celebrate the 254th anniversary of this rebellion along with celebrating our nation’s 250th! Attendees of all ages are welcome, but no dogs are allowed. RSVP TODAY! Speakers: AFP Regional Director Greg Moore, House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, The Honorable Howard Kaloogian, Former House Speaker Bill O’Brien, Tom Thompson. (Kaloogian Barn 217 Colby Road Weare) Lancaster, 4pm-7 – North Country Monthly Potluck – Come join the North Country Porcupines for our monthly potluck! Bring a dish and spend some time reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. Hosted by Staci Webb. (the ‘Pine, 70 Main St, Lancaster) Sunday, April 19thCandia, 1:15pm-3:15 – The Gruck a.k.a. Garnet Ruck – GRUCK: Granite Ruck. Rucking is the act of walking with weight on your back. It’s a low impact exercise based on military training workouts that improves cardio, strength, endurance, and character. This is a challenge by choice event, go as heavy or as far as you’re enthusiastic about. Whether you come for camaraderie or to test your mettle, as long as you come in peace, you’re welcome! Hosted by Michael Rohan. (Garnet School, 456 Critchett Rd, Candia) Keene, 5pm-6 – Social Sunday – Enjoy the company of other liberty-loving people at NH’s longest-running activist social! Hosted by Chris Wade. (Local Burger, 82 Main St, Keene) Manchester, 5pm-7:30 – Manchester Crypto Meetup – We’re not trying to shill any coin, token, or project. We are a group of individuals and businesses in support of cryptocurrency and its everyday uses. Hosted by Matt Ping. (Strange Brew, 88 Market St, Manchester) Nashua, 6pm-8 – Nashua Liberty Social – Weekly Nashua Meet-Up – Location varies each week. This calendar event is typically updated by 2PM on Sunday. Meet-ups are generally within about a 10 minute drive of the downtown area. Hosted by Jeff Creem. |
