The Favreau family is extending an open invitation: Your presence is requested to join in on great bluegrass music, wonderful food and pumpkins.

The Rocky Acres Farm Festival will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The Farm, located just off Route 62 in Sterling, used to host a large private party on its nearly 80-acre farm each year, but it has outgrown the space. This year, for the first time, the old-fashioned celebration is open to the public.

There will be live bluegrass music playing all day. Performers include Back Eddy Bluegrass, Monadnock, Dan Helman and Marking Time and local favorite Wide Open Spaces. The event is BYOC — bring your own chair or blanket — and will offer spots to spread out in the sun or in the shade of the pine grove.

      Music is by no means all the festival has to offer. Free children’s activities will abound, including a clown, balloons, face painting, tractor rides and much more. A pig will be roasting on a spit tempting your taste buds for the pulled-pork meal being served from noon to 5 p.m. For children and others who prefer different fare, a variety of vendors will be there providing other food options.

        Rocky Acres farm is a genuine family affair. Five generations of the Favreau family have run the farm.. Currently, three generations live on the property: Blue and Brian Favreau, their children Madeline, 2, and Nicolette, 5 months, and Brian’s parents, Teresa and Larry Favreau, The farms boasts 40 beef cows, who are fed with the corn and hay raised on their land. The proceeds from the Rocky Acres Farm Festival will not only help the farm break even this year, it will also provide a community event. 

         When asked why folks should attend the day long festival, Blue Favreau says, “They are given a wonderful meal and the music will be spectacular. It’s a wonderful place to spend a laid-back late summer afternoon.”

She adds that there is ample sun and shade on the section of the farm where the festival takes place as well as lots of things to do for visitors of all ages.

Admission, with includes pumpkin picking, tractor ride, BBQ meal and music is $40 per adult. $20 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for children age 2 and under. A music-only ticket is $30 for adults, $10 for children ages 3 to 12 and children under 2 free.

To purchase tickets, send check or money order payable to Rocky Acres Farm to 109 Chace Hill Road, Sterling, MA 01564, call 978-365-3891 or visit the Web site, www.familyfarmday.com, where you can also find directions and further detailed information. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

The Rocky Acres Farms Festival will be held rain or shine — come join the party.

Gretchen Switzer is a regular contributor to MotherTown. She can be reached at mothertown@cnc.com.