For Immediate Release: 8/4/2021 3:36 pm
The City of Worcester, in partnership with the Worcester Cultural Coalition, have announced The popular Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers’ Market returns to the Worcester Common Oval for its 11 year this summer.
The shortened series, run in partnership between the City of Worcester and Worcester Cultural Coalition, will be held Thursday, Aug. 12 and Thursday, Aug. 19, with a rain date of Thursday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The events will feature musical performances, area restaurants, farmers, organizations, and artisans who will sell their goods to the public, as well as local organizations and nonprofits.
In addition, the City of Worcester's Housing Division of the Executive Office of Economic Development, along with community partners, will be on hand as part of Rental & Utility Assistance Resource Week offering resources for rental and utility assistance. COVID-19 vaccinations will also be available.
In its 11th year, the Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers’ Market invites the public to shop with local vendors and food trucks, learn about community organizations, and enjoy live performances featuring Worcester-based talent.
On Aug. 12, the series will feature Crocodile River Music. Niki Luparelli will perform Aug. 19. In addition to mainstage acts, the series will showcase entertainment from the community during intermissions.
“After a temporary hiatus last season, we are thrilled to reunite the community again on the Worcester Common for one of our favorite summer events,” said Yaffa Fain, Program Coordinator for the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division.
“Out to Lunch has been a mainstay in Downtown for the last decade, bringing a diverse audience to the Worcester Common to revel in a shared experience that celebrates our City’s ethnic and cultural diversity, creative community and small businesses,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “We have been relentless in our efforts to vaccinate the community, allowing for in-person events like this to return.”
In order to achieve a comfortable community event for everyone, the series will be ‘mask friendly.’ Cultural Development Officer Erin Williams noted that, “We are so excited to begin bringing in-person programs back this summer, but recognize that everyone has their own level of comfort with returning to crowds. For this reason Out to Lunch will be ‘mask friendly,’ meaning people are welcomed to wear masks if they choose. In following state guidelines, those who are not vaccinated must continue to wear masks, however.”
Fain explained that the decision to shorten the traditional 10-week Out to Lunch series to 2 weeks was based on supporting the community while keeping pandemic safety in mind.
"Like event producers around the world, we've been carefully tracking the progress of the pandemic, and waiting for the health risk to our community to be minimized," Fain said. "In addition to considering public health, we recognize that these events represent an investment of time and money for vendors and performers. For them to have good experiences, the community needs to feel comfortable enough to attend a public gathering."
The 11th Out to Lunch Summer Concert Series is supported in part by the City of Worcester, Worcester Cultural Coalition, 90.5 WICN Public Radio, Bay State Savings Bank, and Radio Worcester.
