BETHEL — “Painting the Porch,” a play staged on five porches with a roving audience, is the featured event of the Mahoosuc Arts Council’s 21st Annual Art Fair to be held on Saturday, July 3.

The play is a complex production involving more than 20 local actors, musicians, visual artists, directors and writers — and five Bethel Village historic home porches.

“We are very keen on the idea of providing this kind of entertainment for visitors to participate with us and enjoy being part of our community,” said Ross Timberlake, “Porch Plays” creative director and producer.

“Painting the Porch” follows a once-famous artist attempting to revive his career by painting the perfect porch to be featured on the cover of “Paint Me. Magazine.” Bethel has been named by the magazine as winner of its “Maine’s Most Beautiful Porch Town” contest, and the artist has been hired to capture the elegance and charm of one of the town’s porches.

The first act, “Painting the Porch: In Fifteen Minutes,” will begin at 12:30 p.m. at Linda Clifford Scottish and Irish Merchant’s porch on Main Street, where town notables will welcome a rather pompous magazine publisher.

At 1:15 p.m, the artist will visit the Kaufmann’s residence on Mechanic Street for Act II, “Painting the Porch: Black and White.”

At 2 p.m., the play will continue on the O’Donnell’s porch on Upper Main Street for Act III, “Painting the Porch: So the Porch Can Be Painted.”

At 2:45 p.m., the Frongillo’s porch on Broad Street will serve as the setting for Act IV, “Painting the Porch: With a Little Help.”

The final act, “Painting the Porch: Anywhere,” will take place at 3:30 p.m. at the Bethel Common gazebo.

“I believe the play will be very entertaining. Expect the unexpected. There’s sure to be plenty of surprises throughout the afternoon,” said Timberlake.

Timberlake and Aranka Matolcsy, executive director of the Mahoosuc Arts Council, will introduce the cast at a 7 p.m. public reception Thursday, July 1, at the Sunday River Brewing Co. For more information, call Timberlake at 824-2234.