The 11th Annual Particle Accelerator: A Day of Music and Hope will be held Saturday, June 10, 2017 and for the first time will be on Main Street in downtown Putnam. The free, all day music festival features 20 bands playing music of all genres and for all ages. The concert begins at noon and will continue until 9 p.m.
The move to Main Street is due to renovations at Rotary Park, which will keep the park closed during the festival. But the move also fits with organizers’ long-term goal for growing the festival to a multi-venue event happening simultaneously between Main Street and Rotary Park.
“After 10 glorious years of Particle Accelerator we were looking for ways to take the festival to the next level, being very careful not to lose the flavor our fans have come to love; to bring the festival into the future without forgetting about its past,” said concert organizer Eric Gould, of Putnam.
During the festival, Main Street will be closed to traffic from Lee Street to Route 44. The concert remains a free event, so the road and sidewalks will remain open to pedestrian traffic.
The annual benefit concert has two main goals.
The first is to raise funds and awareness to support Mental Health First Aid Training, a United Services public education initiative that helps the public identify people in the midst of a mental health crisis more readily and get them the resources and professional help they need before they harm themselves or others.
United Services will next offer Youth Mental Health First Aid on Monday, May 15 and Mental Health First Aid on Monday, May 21 both from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the agency’s Dayville office, 1007 North Main Street. The training is free thanks to Particle Accelerator. Call Emily Morrison at 860-774-2020 or email info@usmhs.org to register.
The second goal is to provide information and support for depression and suicide prevention, while promoting music and civic engagement as a healthy alternative to drug and alcohol abuse among young adults.
“United Services is grateful to Particle Accelerator for the very important work it does in our community battling the stigma of depression and suicide,” said Diane L. Manning, President and CEO of United Services.
The concert is organized by Putnam residents Jack and Grace Young and Eric and Sandy Gould with the help of many volunteer artists, bands, sound and lighting technicians and many others.
Terry and Sarah Paquette, owners of The Stomping Ground on Main Street in Putnam, join the event as honorary chairpersons this year.
The Stomping Ground and The Crossings will once again host the Particle Accelerator Restaurant Tour on May 11. Both restaurants will donate 10% of sales all day to Particle. Kala Farnham, a longtime Particle performer, will play at The Crossings and The Eric Ducoff Band with play at The Stomping Ground, both at 8 p.m.
The festival is held in memory of local musician Jack Young, Jr. In addition to the concert, the family-friendly festival will also feature art displays, children’s activities and booths from local nonprofit organizations providing information on various local behavioral health and human services. A basket drawing will also be held at the event.
In 10 years, Particle Accelerator has raised more than $50,000 for local mental health services.
“It’s our sincere wish that no lives be lost to suicide and depression for want of information on the great programs in our area that are available to help families,” said Grace Young.
United Services, Inc., one of Connecticut’s most comprehensive private, non-profit behavioral health centers, providing mental and behavioral health education, prevention, treatment and social services to the children, adults and families of northeastern Connecticut since 1964. United Services offers mental health assistance 24/7/365 at 860-774-2020. For more information visit UnitedServicesCT.org.