The Worcester City License Commission voted to approve an entertainment license for the Higher Education Music and Arts Festival at City Square Park, authorizing recorded and live music, dancing and amplified sound for a three-day event Friday–Sunday, Aug. 15–17.

Jason Muthling of 508 Productions LLC, the event organizer, told commissioners the festival will run two stages over three days, host about 24 acts, and include an interactive educational village and live painters. “Traditionally, we’ve had 850 to a thousand patrons daily when we’ve branded in the past,” Muthling said.

Muthling said the production will use a professional security firm (NEST) and will coordinate with the Worcester Police Department for detail officers. For restroom facilities, he said the event will bring approximately 20 portable toilets, three of which will be ADA accessible. Police clarified that alcohol service will be limited to an enclosed service area and that the applicant will implement procedures to ensure service only to people 21 and older.

Commissioners asked about crowd control, restroom capacity and security; after that discussion the commission moved and approved the entertainment license. Chair Anthony Vigliotti noted that if the commission approved a liquor license it would be uploaded to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission website within 48 hours for state review; the ABCC typically assigns a state investigator and the state process usually takes several weeks.

The commission approved the entertainment license with standard conditions and directed the applicant to continue coordinating with police and license staff.