[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdFzakOWJzI]

The Open Road Music and Arts festival, moving into year two, can now truly call itself an annual event. An outdoor festival perfectly timed to take in our last bit of sunshine, the festival takes over the newly-remodelled Institute Park in Worcester, Massachusetts (just an hour outside of Boston!) with art, music and community on September 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Alchemystics, Herra Terra, Gamble & Burke and Art Decade lead the musical line-up of all local bands with a love for sustainability! This year, two stages showcase the best up-and-coming Massachusetts acts in reggae, synth rock, post-rock, jazz and more.

The festival also features live art from artists of a variety of different mediums, including a tattoo artist, a sculptor and living statues. Over 30 vendors selling handmade goods, a variety of different cuisines and eco-friendly products make Open Road the ideal summer destination for the green-minded.

All electricity used for the festival will be offset by wind power via Mass Energy using the Holy Name wind turbine. They’re so into reducing their carbon footprint that even the porta-potties are green certified!

For those with kids in tow: children under 10 get in free, and younger attendees are welcome to enjoy a kids village with games, collaborative art and face-painting. All kids village activities and materials are recycled or re-purposed.

A portion of proceeds from the festival will benefit Worcester’s Joy of Music program, a non-profit community music school. Attendees are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for a food drive run by Strangers Helping Strangers.

So there you have it: go, be outside, have fun, dance, save the planet. It’s kind of a no-brainer. Get your tickets right over here and help shape the future this fantastic community event!