Summer Of Rock Concert To Benefit Abilities Without Borders

CHESHIRE, CT — A “Summer of Rock” festival will be held this Saturday (Aug.10) as a benefit for Cheshire-based Abilities Without Borders, a care facility providing work opportunities and day programs for adults ages 21 to 80 with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Senor Pancho’s restaurant, located at 280 Cheshire Road in Prospect. Read more from Abilities Without Borders below:

A one-day-only rock ‘n roll festival offers more than 20 bands playing on two stages to make sure the rocking never stops. This is a kid-and-family-friendly event. Also offered are music clinics – ever wondered if you could learn to play? There will be face painting, artists, lawn games, kid’s activities, a marketplace and food and drink.

Senor Pancho’s of Prospect is the venue with its beautiful, terraced lawn. The weather forecast is superior.

Tickets are just $10 for adults and $5 for children for the whole day and can be purchased at the door or in advance online, using the link from www.AbilitiesWithoutBoundaries.org. The festival benefits Abilities Without Boundaries (AWB), a care facility providing work opportunities and day programs for adults ages 21 to 80 with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Based in Cheshire, AWB serves it and a dozen surrounding towns.

AWB is building a music therapy program for individuals the organization serves, said Julie Rodriguez, AWB executive director. “In our music room is a quote, ‘When words fail, music speaks.’ We see again and again how music can reach even our non-verbal individuals with disabilities.”

This includes forming a traveling band that can perform at various venues like libraries, senior centers, hospitals, etc., in Cheshire and surrounding towns. Saturday they make their general public debut! (They’ve performed once already for AWB board members, donors and sponsors.) Fundraising from this event supports purchase of instruments, lessons for the individuals, transportation and support staff. AWB is also looking for donations of used musical instruments. One of the event organizers, John Ingrassia, is helping create a music program at the nonprofit. Ingrassia’s band, The Johnny I. Band, will be Saturday.

Pictured: Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Abilities Without Boundaries have created a traveling music group and their public debut is Saturday, August 10, at the Summer of Rock festival, Senor Pancho’s of Prospect.