By Erin Hansen

On September 4th, 2010, Institute Park in Worcester will be home to the first annual Open Road Music & Arts Festival. This earth-friendly event will feature great live music including Sam Kininger Band (Soulive & Lettuce), Love In Stockholm, Goosepimp Orchestra, The Roadkill Orchestra, The Neighbors, Shane Hall & Ticklebomb Orchestra, Hat On, Drinking Wine, & The Black Raspberries. The all- ages festival will include a children’s entertainment area with games, face painting, collaborative art, and other fun activities. Artists performing in the children’s area include Andy Sullivan, James Keyes & Kayla Daly. The perimeter of the park will be home to over 30 arts and crafts vendors selling their various hand-made goods.

Open Road’s goal is to raise awareness of alternative and sustainable lifestyles while bringing Worcester’s community (and beyond) together via local art and extraordinary music. A few examples of the festival’s green initiative are: the sound system will be powered by a bio-diesel generator, recycling bins will be found throughout the grounds, porta-potties will be “green” certified, and all promotional materials have been printed on either organic, recycled or water based material.

In addition to the live music, there will be live art, belly dancing, living statues, a variety of cuisine and family-friendly activities.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Joy of Music Program in Worcester.

The all ages fun begins at 11:00am and will continue until 6:00 pm. Tickets are available at www.openroadfestival.com for $8 until 8/4/10, then are $15 and $20 at the gate day of (Kids under 10 are FREE!).

For more information, you can contact Marcus Ohanesian, Executive Director, at 508-574-1247 and marcus@openroadfestival.com.