Mid Massachusetts News

WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester and the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) are excited to announce the return of the Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers’ Market for its 13th year. The popular festival series will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 3, 17, and 31 with a rain date of September 7.

The community is invited to enjoy live music, dynamic performances, community organizations, homemade crafts, food vendors, and local farm stands on the Worcester Common. Musical performances begin at 12 p.m. with a local performance showcase around 1 p.m.

“We are thrilled to invite our community ‘Out to Lunch’ on the Worcester Common again this summer,” said Yaffa Fain, Program Assistant for the Cultural Development Division. “The Out to Lunch Festival series is one of the most-loved and anticipated events that the City hosts. We’re looking forward to sharing more of these fun afternoons Downtown with the community and visitors.”

“I always look forward to Out to Lunch, and the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District is proud to be partnering with the City of Worcester on this terrific annual event,” said BID Executive Director Evelyn Darling. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for community members to unite on the Common to experience great music, amazing food, and local art, all here in the heart of our Downtown neighborhood.”

This year’s Out to Lunch Festival is currently accepting applications for artisan, crafter, food, farmer, and nonprofit vendors. The Vendor Application deadline is Wednesday, July 5. The Vendor Application and additional information for vendors can be found at www.worcesterma.gov/worcester-common-oval/out-to-lunch.

The 2023 Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers’ Market will include a lively performance lineup, with both mainstage musicians and community groups performing during intermissions:

Thursday, August 3: Headlining Act - Crocodile River Music

African rhythms, history, and culture merge into an afternoon of movement, cultural exploration, and joy. Internationally recognized, the group consists of members from Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Tanzania, and the U.S. Its mission is to connect audiences with African artists and culture through performance and education. They are a diverse group of people committed to presenting African art, music, and culture to audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and capabilities.

Thursday, August 17: Headlining Act – Ball in the House

Ball in the House is a R&B, soul, and pop acapella group based out of Boston, Mass., whose high energy shows have audiences singing, dancing, even beatboxing along. With their extensive tour schedule (averaging 200 shows a year), Ball in the House has performed everywhere from theaters to performing arts centers, fairs and festivals, to opening for some of the biggest acts in the world, such as The Beach Boys, The Jonas Brothers, The Temptations, Fantasia, Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Blondie, Smokey Robinson, KC & The Sunshine Band, Diamond Rio, Colin Raye, Orleans, and numerous others. Ball in the House has appeared on America’s Got Talent, The TODAY Show, The Daily Buzz, the Philadelphia 4th of July Parade, and SBS Culture Club and MBC News in Seoul, South Korea.

Thursday, August 31: Headlining Act - Stomp N’ Holler

Voted "Best Country Act" by the 2023 Worcester Music Awards, Stomp N' Holler has been performing their fun mix of Country and Country Crossovers throughout New England since 2014. Each show is an eclectic rodeo of Classic Country including favorites by Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson; current songs by Miranda Lambert and Kenny Chesney; crossovers by artists such as Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, and John Denver and Stomp N’ Holler’s own critically-acclaimed originals. The group calls their style: "Feel-Good Music for the Masses!"

For more information and updates about Out to Lunch, follow @cityofworcester and @downtownworcesterbid on Instagram and Facebook. Additional event information can be found online at www.worcesterma.gov/worcester-common-oval/out-to-lunch.

Original source can be found here.