Downtown Worcester

An Afternoon of Italian Opera
2022-05-22 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
Join us for an afternoon of Italian Opera and art song benefiting the Worcester Organ!
This program, which includes a full Italian program of opera and some song, will feature the distinguished voices of Ukrainian soprano, Olga Lisovskaya, Neapolitan tenor, Giovanni Formisano, and Leonardo Ciampa at the piano. Enjoy the program selection including excerpts from Madame Butterfly, La Traviata, and many other songs and arias.
Leonardo Ciampa, composer, organist, pianist
Mechanics Hall Composer-in-Residence
Leonardo Ciampa was born in Boston in 1971. Mr. Ciampa is an Italian-American composer, organist, and pianist of international repute. He has performed his compositions at cathedrals in Vienna, New York City, Boston, Altenberg, Brandenberg, Tortona and Biella, and at basilicas in Rome, Turin, Loreto, Rieti and Gubbio (where Ciampa holds the title of Maestro di Cappella Onorario). He currently lives in Worcester, where he serves as Director of Music at Emanuel Lutheran Church.
Mr. Ciampa is one of the “veteran Hook organists” according to Gagne. Ciampa’s love and respect for the Worcester Organ has roots in his experience from ages 18 to 30 playing an 1859 E. & G.G. Hook at the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain. The Jamaica Plain organ was later destroyed by fire in 2005. “That organ molded me during those formative years.” Said Ciampa. “I never got over its loss. But now, twenty years later, I have another chance to create music on one of the Hook brothers’ grandest instruments. It is one of the greatest honors of my life.” http://leonardociampa.com/
Giovanni Formisano, tenor
"A native of Torre del Greco (Naples, Italy), Giovanni Formisano has been called, “an Italian tenor in the grand tradition.” He has received high praise for his interpretations of the Italian lyric tenor repertoire, with a special affinity for the classic songs from his native Naples. Winner of the “Talents of the World” voice competition in Boston and recipient of the Emerging Artist Award from the St. Botolph Club Foundation, Mr. Formisano was featured in a tribute concert in honor of the legendary baritone Dimitri Hvorostovsky at Carnegie Hall, alongside renowned mezzo-soprano Nino Surguladze and many others.
His operatic and concert appearance include the tenor solo in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, Don José in Carmen with the Commonwealth Lyric Theater, the tenor solo in Verdi’s Requiem with the Paul Madore Chorale and Salem orchestra in Salem MA, Alfredo in La Traviata with Opera Providence, The Young Gypsy in Rachmaninoff’s Aleko with the Commonwealth Lyric Theater, Camille in The Merry Widow with Opera Providence, and Rodolfo in La bohème with Boston Opera Collaborative. Mr. Formisano’s past roles include the tenor solo in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Amherst College, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Center City Opera Theatre in Philadelphia and Opera del West, Arturo in Lucia di Lamermoor with Commonwealth Opera, Cavaradossi in Tosca with the Lowell House Opera, Pong in Turandot with the Connecticut Grand Opera and Lowell House Opera, Spoletta in Tosca with the Cape Cod Opera and the Ruggero in La rondine at the Longy School of Music. http://giovanniformisanotenor.com/
Olga Lisovskaya, soprano
Olga Lisovskaya is a critically-acclaimed singer, voice teacher and director of Talents of the World, an international concert organization, as well as Executive Director at Commonwealth Lyric Theater, an award-winning opera company. Ms. Lisovskaya performs regularly at some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world. Her most recent performance was at Carnegie Hall, featuring distinguished colleagues of the legendary Dmitri Hvorostovsky and received glowing reviews in the press. Olga Lisovskaya combines her busy performing career with teaching, because teaching is her passion. Olga's teaching experience, combined with constant perfection of vocal technique with master teachers and colleagues from LaScala, Metropolitan Opera and Bolshoi Theater, offers a rich and profound knowledge to her students. Having worked with singers of all ages and levels, Ms. Lisovskaya has individual approach to her students. She teaches wide range of repertoire – from opera, operetta, oratorio, classical songs, to Broadway, musical theater, and pop. The main focus of her lessons is the technique: breath support and breath/tone coordination, clarity of intonation and diction, flexibility in the sound, focused resonance, etc. She also helps with interpretation. Olga's students have gone on to win competitions, were admitted to conservatories, hired by opera companies. Some of her students receive opportunities to participate in productions and concerts with Talents of the World and Commonwealth Lyric Theater. OlgaLisovskaya.com

About The Worcester Organ
The Hook Organ, installed in 1864, dominates the Great Hall. American organ builders Elias and George Hook, brothers from Boston, constructed the 52-stop, 3,504-pipe instrument, which is often referred to as the "Worcester Organ." Today, the Hook organ is the oldest unaltered four-keyboard pipe organ in the Western Hemisphere located at its installation site.
Restored in 1982, the Hook Organ since then has become one of the most popular and respected organs in the United States. It has been featured numerous times on National Public Radio, performed in several recordings, and has been featured on television and in a major motion picture, as well as in a music video starring Michael Crawford, the original "Phantom of the Opera."
See the specifications of the Hook Organ
Read more about the Hook Organ at HookOrgan.org

STOMP
2022-05-31 00:00 - 23:59
The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. Year after year, audiences worldwide keep coming back for more of this pulse-pounding, electrifying show. As the Boston Globe says, “If you haven’t seen STOMP, GO! If you have seen it, take someone and share the pleasure!” STOMP. See what all the noise is about.
Tickets are $32, $42, $52, and $62 depending on seat location. Contact the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469) for more information.
Date updated: May 31, 2022 at 7:30pm

America
2022-06-04 00:00 - 23:59
Founding members, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, along with former band mate Dan Peek, met in high school in London in the late 1960s and quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song “A Horse With No Name.” America became a global household name and paved the way with an impressive string of hits following the success of their first number one single.
Tickets are $49, $59, $79 and $99 depending on seat location. Please contact the box office for more information.

Afternoon of Brass
2022-06-05 00:00 - 23:59
Enjoy live music of immense power and finesse. Honoring Worcester County Firefighters! Featuring brass, percussion, organ, chorus.
Join us for an uplifting classical music concert!

Honoring Worcester County Firefighters
Premiering (with chorus) a unique arrangement of Gustav Mahler's 'Resurrection' Symphony for brass, organ and chorus. "It's a spectacular arrangement that precisely frames the gravitas and aspiration of the original work" -Lawrence B. Johnson
Showcasing the elite brass playing of the Pitzen Brass Resurrection 2022

Visit us at https://abnbe.eventbrite.com/ for updated information.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Afternoon of Brass, Sunday June 5, 2022

2:00-5:00pm – Face painting in Washburn Hall (FREE)
3:00-4:00pm – Honoring Worcester County Firefighters
4:15-5:45pm – Pitzen Brass Resurrection

Featured performers:

Emcee – Brian McCreath
Organ – Leonardo Ciampa
Bay Colony Brass – Lawrence Isaacson
New World Chorale – Holly Krafka
Pitzen Brass Resurrection – Mitchell Arnold

Featured music:

John Williams, Hymn to the Fallen
Gustav Mahler, ‘Resurrection’ Symphony Finale arr. Stephen Bulla
And other works by: Elgar, J.S. Bach, Grieg, Mason, Sibelius, R. Strauss, G. Gabrieli, Dukas, Crespo, Abreu, Byrd, Susato, Karg-Elert, Hazell, Wagner

MORE INFORMATION
John Williams, Hymn to the Fallen arr. Daniel Drage
"The 'Hymn to The Fallen' is one of John Williams most astounding pieces. The simple tune carries the weight of all [who have fallen]. From the snare solo in the beginning, the theme begins softly, with a beautiful choral part. The music is never too sad or depressing. Even when the tension builds, the tears that are yanked from your eyes come not from the sadness of the piece, but from its profound beauty. One of the most glorious parts of the track is the brass’ interpretation of the theme. It rises up in dignity, and dies back down, letting way for another, stronger rendition of the theme, once again with the [simple tune]. The [music] swells in a majestic, grandiose rendition, building up to the soaring climax, and sweeping down back to the calm. A lonely duet leads into the conclusion, with the snare drum growing only to fade back." -Frank Lehman
Gustav Mahler, ‘Resurrection’ Symphony Finale arr. Stephen Bulla
On everyone's bucket list should be a live performance of the Mahler 2 Finale. It is truly the best music ever written. The entire work is just too long for most listeners to bear (over 80 minutes) but this unique arrangement is only 11 minutes in length. It was premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass on 15-DEC-2021 … "The concert’s finale was the definition of grand: a broad swath of the closing movement from Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony in a spectacular arrangement that precisely framed the gravitas and aspiration of the original work. Off-stage trumpets summoned the chaos of purgatory before the reunited ensemble began the long, swelling musical ascent of transmigration. So closely did Mulcahy and his musicians, augmented by timpani and percussion, mirror the full orchestral context of Mahler’s work – again banishing from mind the absence of strings and woodwinds – that one might have forgotten entirely about the other missing element: the chorus." … https://chicagoontheaisle.com/2021/12/16/cso-brass-measure-up-to-golden-reputationwith-sonorous-fare-capped-by-blazing-mahler/
Our Mechanics Hall premiere is including "the other missing element" (the chorus). It will be completely over the top. Don't miss your chance to hear it!
The finale music is aptly described: "Once more we must confront terrifying questions, and the atmosphere is the same as at the end of the third movement. The voice of the Caller is heard. The end of every living thing has come, the last judgment is at hand and the horror of the day of days has come upon us. The earth trembles, the graves burst open, the dead arise and march forth in endless procession. The great and the small of this earth, the kings and the beggars, the just and the godless all press forward. The cry for mercy and forgiveness sounds fearful in our ears. The wailing becomes gradually more terrible. Our senses desert us, all consciousness dies as the Eternal Judge approaches. The last trump sounds; the trumpets of the Apocalypse ring out. In the eerie silence that follows, we can just barely make out a distant nightingale, a last tremulous echo of earthly life. The gentle sound of a chorus of saints and heavenly hosts is then heard: 'Rise again, yes, rise again thou wilt!' Then God in all His glory comes into sight. A wondrous light strikes us to the heart. All is quiet and blissful. Lo and behold: there is no judgment, no sinners, no just men, no great and no small; there is no punishment and no reward. A feeling of overwhelming love fills us with blissful knowledge and illuminates our existence.” https://gustavmahler.com/symphonies/mahler-symphony-2.htm

Afternoon of Brass
2022-06-05 00:00 - 23:59
Honoring our local Firefighters with eclectic, uplifting classical music arranged for brass, percussion, organ, and chorus.

Presenting a special music-video tribute to our local Firefighters set to the music of John Williams Hymn to the Fallen
Premiering Gustav Mahler, Resurrection Symphony Finale in "a spectacular arrangement that precisely frames the gravitas and aspiration of the original work" Lawrence B. Johnson
Showcasing the elite brass playing of the Pitzen Brass Resurrection
Afternoon of Brass

2:00-5:00 PM: Face Painting
3:00-4:00 PM: Tribute to Local Firefighters
4:15-6:00 PM: Pitzen Brass Resurrection

Tribute to Local Firefighters

Nimrod, Elgar
Fanfare for the Common Man, Copland
Nearer My God to Thee, Mason
Hymn to the Fallen, Williams (with video projection: "Honoring our Local Firefighters")
Be Still My Soul, Sibelius
Resurrection Symphony Finale, Mahler. Premiering with chorus "a spectacular arrangement that precisely frames the gravitas and aspiration of the original work" Lawrence B. Johnson

Pitzen Brass Resurrection

Feierlicher Einzug, Strauss
Canzona in Echo Duodecimi Toni, Gabrieli
Fanfare pour précéder La Péri, Dukas
Bruckner Etüde für das tiefe Blech, Crespo
Fest- und Gedenksprüche, Brahms
The Earle of Oxford's Marche, Byrd
Susato Suite, Susato
Praise the Lord with drums and cymbals, Karg-Elert
Funeral March, Grieg
Gathering of the Armies, Wagner

FEATURING

Emcee – Brian McCreath
Organ – Leonardo Ciampa
Bay Colony Brass – Lawrence Isaacson
New World Chorale – Holly Krafka
Pitzen Brass Resurrection – Mitchell Arnold

MORE INFORMATION
John Williams, Hymn to the Fallen arr. Daniel Drage
"The 'Hymn to The Fallen' is one of John Williams most astounding pieces. The simple tune carries the weight of all [who have fallen]. From the snare solo in the beginning, the theme begins softly, with a beautiful choral part. The music is never too sad or depressing. Even when the tension builds, the tears that are yanked from your eyes come not from the sadness of the piece, but from its profound beauty. One of the most glorious parts of the track is the brass’ interpretation of the theme. It rises up in dignity, and dies back down, letting way for another, stronger rendition of the theme, once again with the [simple tune]. The [music] swells in a majestic, grandiose rendition, building up to the soaring climax, and sweeping down back to the calm. A lonely duet leads into the conclusion, with the snare drum growing only to fade back." -Frank Lehman
Gustav Mahler, ‘Resurrection’ Symphony Finale arr. Stephen Bulla
On everyone's bucket list should be a live performance of the Mahler 2 Finale. It is truly the best music ever written. The entire work is just too long for most listeners to bear (over 80 minutes) but this unique arrangement is only 11 minutes in length. It was premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass on 15-DEC-2021 … "The concert’s finale was the definition of grand: a broad swath of the closing movement from Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony in a spectacular arrangement that precisely framed the gravitas and aspiration of the original work. Off-stage trumpets summoned the chaos of purgatory before the reunited ensemble began the long, swelling musical ascent of transmigration. So closely did Mulcahy and his musicians, augmented by timpani and percussion, mirror the full orchestral context of Mahler’s work – again banishing from mind the absence of strings and woodwinds – that one might have forgotten entirely about the other missing element: the chorus." … https://chicagoontheaisle.com/2021/12/16/cso-brass-measure-up-to-golden-reputationwith-sonorous-fare-capped-by-blazing-mahler/
Our Mechanics Hall premiere is including "the other missing element" (the chorus). It will be completely over the top. Don't miss your chance to hear it!
The finale music is aptly described: "Once more we must confront terrifying questions, and the atmosphere is the same as at the end of the third movement. The voice of the Caller is heard. The end of every living thing has come, the last judgment is at hand and the horror of the day of days has come upon us. The earth trembles, the graves burst open, the dead arise and march forth in endless procession. The great and the small of this earth, the kings and the beggars, the just and the godless all press forward. The cry for mercy and forgiveness sounds fearful in our ears. The wailing becomes gradually more terrible. Our senses desert us, all consciousness dies as the Eternal Judge approaches. The last trump sounds; the trumpets of the Apocalypse ring out. In the eerie silence that follows, we can just barely make out a distant nightingale, a last tremulous echo of earthly life. The gentle sound of a chorus of saints and heavenly hosts is then heard: 'Rise again, yes, rise again thou wilt!' Then God in all His glory comes into sight. A wondrous light strikes us to the heart. All is quiet and blissful. Lo and behold: there is no judgment, no sinners, no just men, no great and no small; there is no punishment and no reward. A feeling of overwhelming love fills us with blissful knowledge and illuminates our existence.” https://gustavmahler.com/symphonies/mahler-symphony-2.html

Afternoon of Brass: Honoring Local Firefighters
2022-06-05 00:00 - 23:59
Honoring our local Firefighters with eclectic, uplifting classical music arranged for brass, percussion, organ, and chorus.
SCHEDULE
2:00-5:00 PM: Face Painting
3:00-4:00 PM: Tribute to Local Firefighters
Firefighters receive a 50% off discount if wearing their official firefighter uniform or gear.
4:15-6:00 PM: Pitzen Brass Resurrection
PROGRAM
Tribute to Local Firefighters

Nimrod, Elgar
Fanfare for the Common Man, Copland
Nearer My God to Thee, Mason
Hymn to the Fallen, Williams (with video projection: "Honoring our Local Firefighters")
Be Still My Soul, Sibelius
Resurrection Symphony Finale, Mahler. Premiering with chorus "a spectacular arrangement that precisely frames the gravitas and aspiration of the original work" Lawrence B. Johnson

Pitzen Brass Resurrection

Feierlicher Einzug, Strauss
Canzona in Echo Duodecimi Toni, Gabrieli
Fanfare pour précéder La Péri, Dukas
Bruckner Etüde für das tiefe Blech, Crespo
Fest- und Gedenksprüche, Brahms
The Earle of Oxford's Marche, Byrd
Susato Suite, Susato
Praise the Lord with drums and cymbals, Karg-Elert
Funeral March, Grieg
Gathering of the Armies, Wagner

FEATURING

Emcee – Brian McCreath
Organ – Leonardo Ciampa
Bay Colony Brass – Lawrence Isaacson
New World Chorale – Holly Krafka
Pitzen Brass Resurrection – Mitchell Arnold

MORE INFORMATION
John Williams, Hymn to the Fallen arr. Daniel Drage
"The 'Hymn to The Fallen' is one of John Williams most astounding pieces. The simple tune carries the weight of all [who have fallen]. From the snare solo in the beginning, the theme begins softly, with a beautiful choral part. The music is never too sad or depressing. Even when the tension builds, the tears that are yanked from your eyes come not from the sadness of the piece, but from its profound beauty. One of the most glorious parts of the track is the brass’ interpretation of the theme. It rises up in dignity, and dies back down, letting way for another, stronger rendition of the theme, once again with the [simple tune]. The [music] swells in a majestic, grandiose rendition, building up to the soaring climax, and sweeping down back to the calm. A lonely duet leads into the conclusion, with the snare drum growing only to fade back." -Frank Lehman
Gustav Mahler, ‘Resurrection’ Symphony Finale arr. Stephen Bulla
On everyone's bucket list should be a live performance of the Mahler 2 Finale. It is truly the best music ever written. The entire work is just too long for most listeners to bear (over 80 minutes) but this unique arrangement is only 11 minutes in length. It was premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass on 15-DEC-2021 … "The concert’s finale was the definition of grand: a broad swath of the closing movement from Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony in a spectacular arrangement that precisely framed the gravitas and aspiration of the original work. Off-stage trumpets summoned the chaos of purgatory before the reunited ensemble began the long, swelling musical ascent of transmigration. So closely did Mulcahy and his musicians, augmented by timpani and percussion, mirror the full orchestral context of Mahler’s work – again banishing from mind the absence of strings and woodwinds – that one might have forgotten entirely about the other missing element: the chorus." … https://chicagoontheaisle.com/2021/12/16/cso-brass-measure-up-to-golden-reputationwith-sonorous-fare-capped-by-blazing-mahler/
Our Mechanics Hall premiere is including "the other missing element" (the chorus). It will be completely over the top. Don't miss your chance to hear it!
The finale music is aptly described: "Once more we must confront terrifying questions, and the atmosphere is the same as at the end of the third movement. The voice of the Caller is heard. The end of every living thing has come, the last judgment is at hand and the horror of the day of days has come upon us. The earth trembles, the graves burst open, the dead arise and march forth in endless procession. The great and the small of this earth, the kings and the beggars, the just and the godless all press forward. The cry for mercy and forgiveness sounds fearful in our ears. The wailing becomes gradually more terrible. Our senses desert us, all consciousness dies as the Eternal Judge approaches. The last trump sounds; the trumpets of the Apocalypse ring out. In the eerie silence that follows, we can just barely make out a distant nightingale, a last tremulous echo of earthly life. The gentle sound of a chorus of saints and heavenly hosts is then heard: 'Rise again, yes, rise again thou wilt!' Then God in all His glory comes into sight. A wondrous light strikes us to the heart. All is quiet and blissful. Lo and behold: there is no judgment, no sinners, no just men, no great and no small; there is no punishment and no reward. A feeling of overwhelming love fills us with blissful knowledge and illuminates our existence.” https://gustavmahler.com/symphonies/mahler-symphony-2.html

FREE Brown Bag Concert featuring the Noah Preminger Quartet
2022-06-08 00:00 - 23:59
Join us for a complimentary lunchtime Brown Bag Concert featuring the Noah Preminger Quartet!

Noah Preminger
Of Brooklyn-based saxophonist Noah Preminger, The New York Times declares: “Mr. Preminger designs a different kind of sound for each note, an individual destiny and story."
Preminger, just 32 and the winner of Downbeat Magazine’s Rising Star Best Tenor Saxophonist, has recorded over twelve critically acclaimed albums. Multiple recordings were released in 2017-18, including Meditations On Freedom, released on Inauguration Day, 2017, as a musical protest of ominous political developments in America. In addition, a duo album recorded in NEC’s Jordan Hall with pianist, Frank Carlberg, a Quartet recording on Criss Cross Records, and a recording of the music of Otto Preminger’s films – on French, vinyl-only label, Newvelle Records. In 2018, Preminger and co-leader Rob Garcia created the Dead Composers Club and released The Chopin Project, the first of the quartet’s planned annual examinations of deceased composer’s oeuvres. In 2018, Preminger has contributed music to a major motion picture, was awarded a composition Fellowship at Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists Studio and is recording two new albums of original music.
Born in 1986, Preminger grew up in Canton, Connecticut. He released his debut album, Dry Bridge Road, just after his 21st birthday, which was named Debut of the Year in the Village Voice Critics Poll. Preminger’s second and third albums as a leader came in 2011 and 2013 while signed to the Palmetto Records label. The Boston Globe hails Preminger as “A master with standards and ballads, as well as an adventurous composer.” The saxophonist has performed on key stages from the United States to Europe and Australia, and he has played and/or recorded with the likes of Jason Moran, Dave Holland, John Patitucci, Fred Hersch, Dave Douglas, Billy Hart, Joe Lovano, Victor Lewis, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Cecil McBee, George Cables, and Roscoe Mitchell.

Worcester Chamber Music Society: Neighborhood Strings 10th Anniversary Benefit Concert
2022-06-09 00:00 - 23:59
Neighborhood Strings 10th Anniversary Benefit Concert
Join us as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our widely-acclaimed Neighborhood Strings program! Offering free music lessons in violin, viola, and cello to youth from Worcester’s marginalized neighborhoods, Neighborhood Strings provides affordable, high-quality arts education, and fosters family involvement. Young people learn to make music together with musicians and friends from WCMS. In the process, they discover a creative outlet that hones life skills like discipline, cooperation, imagination, and leadership.
The Event
Thursday, June 9, 2022
5:30-8:30 PM
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester

Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres
Music and Community Awards Presentation by Mayor Joseph Petty
Neighborhood Strings WORLD PREMIERE* of Milad YouSufi’s Solitude
Fund-a-Need and dessert
Performances by Worcester Chamber Music Society and Simone Dinnerstein
*Commissioned by WCMS
Benefit Concert Program
Milad Yousufi My Journey to America
Tracy Kraus, flute; Krista Buckland Reisner, violin; Peter Sulski, viola; Ariana Falk, cello;
Randall Hodgkinson, piano; and Milad Yousufi, composer & narrator
Philip Glass Mad Rush
Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Guest Artists:
Internationally acclaimed pianist Simone Dinnerstein and Afghani composer Milad Yousufi
Tickets
Table seating – $150
Table of 8 – $1100
Balcony – $75

COVID-19 Protocol:
We expect all attendees are fully vaccinated.
As of April 18, masking is required unless eating or drinking.

Worcester Tercentennial Cultural Parade
2022-06-11 00:00 - 23:59
Join us for the Tercentennial Parade celebrating Worcester's diverse and eclectic makeup featuring cultural organizations, schools, neighborhood groups and more!
Stay for the Community Festival on the Worcester Common and surrounding streets with food, music, art and more beginning at Noon!
The City is pleased to offer free parking in municipal lots and garages downtown Worcester for patrons attending any Tercentennial events. In addition, the WRTA continues its fare-free program, making the events accessible to all. Public transportation is highly encouraged.

Worcester Tercentennial Community Festival
2022-06-11 00:00 - 23:59
Come celebrate Worcester’s past, present, future and creative cultural community at the Tercentennial Community Festival on and around the Worcester Common from Noon to 5PM on Saturday, June 11.
Festival programming to include over 200 local vendors, merchants and artists along with food, music and cultural performances programmed in part by stART on the Street, the Creative Hub Worcester and Main Idea.
Food vendors, artists and performers to be announced.
The city is pleased to offer free parking in municipal lots and garages downtown Worcester for patrons attending any Tercentennial events. In addition, the WRTA continues its fare-free program, making the events accessible to all. Public transportation is highly encouraged.

Worcester Tercentennial 5K Road Race
2022-06-11 09:00 - 10:00
You're invited to run or walk in the Worcester Tercentennial 5K Road Race
Register on Racewire: https://racewire.com/register.php?id=12702
Date: Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Tercentennial 5k start time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Downtown Worcester MA. The race start and finish will be located on Mechanic Street at Commerical Street (across from Mercantile Plaza). Full course will be posted here soon.

Entry Fees
Fees are paid on the ONLINE REGISTRATION page
Early bird (until 4/30/2022): $30
5/1/2022 to 6/10/2022*: $33
On race day 6/11/2022: $35
*Online registration closes Saturday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m.
Sorry, no refunds and no pets allowed.
Worcester Tercentennial 5K t-shirts for all entrants.
Confirm your entry here

On-Site Registration, Race number and T-shirt pick-up
Packet pickup will be hosted by Sneakerama on Friday, June 10 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Location: Sneakerama Running Store
12 Lake Ave
Worcester, MA 01604
P: 508-799-7278
Onsite entry fee: $35

Race Day Registration, Race number and T-shirt pick-up
Packet pickup starts from 8:00 a.m. until the start of the Tercentennial 5k at 9:00 a.m.
Location: Mercantile Plaza on Mechanic Ct. in Downtown Worcester.
Note: Mechanic Street is located one block north from Worcester City Hall, Worcester MA
Onsite entry fee: $35

Parking & Transportation
The city is pleased to offer free parking in municipal lots and garages in downtown Worcester for those participating in and attending Tercentennial events. In addition, the WRTA continues its fare-free program, and public transportation is highly encouraged. The WRTA Central Bus hub is a .2 mile (5-minute) walk from Mercantile Plaza.
Parking lot addresses & map available at https://www.worcesterma.gov/parking

Tercentennial Concert: Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with Special Guest Brian McKnight
2022-06-12 16:00 - 18:00
The Worcester Tercentennial committee has announced a special anniversary performance by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Brian McKnight, at the DCU Center on Sunday, June 12 at 4 p.m. Entry is complimentary but tickets are required. Secure your complimentary seats now:

Pick up tickets in person at the DCU Center Box Office (Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Sunday/Monday on event days only)
or online for free with no fees at Ticketmaster: ticketmaster.com/event/01005C7BD8C66B9D

Known for Billboard charting hits like Anytime and Back at One, Brian McKnight has released 15 albums to date, with several going 2 and 3x platinum, and has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. In addition to being a singer, songwriter and producer, McKnight is also a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments including piano, guitar, bass, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet. Along with several Grammy nominations, Brian McKnight has been the recipient of American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, NAACP Image and Blockbuster Awards, and Billboard Songwriter of The Year.
Conducting the renowned Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra for this special engagement is respected maestro Damon Gupton, Principal Guest Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops. An accomplished composer, narrator and actor with roles in film and television; such as, Whiplash, LaLa Land, This is Forty, Criminal Minds, Prime Suspect and Deadline as well as guest and recurring appearances on Dirty John, Goliath, Bates Motel, The Newsroom, Suits, Empire, Law & Order, Law & Order Criminal Intent and Third Watch.

FREE Brown Bag Concert featuring the Armen Donelian Trio
2022-06-15 00:00 - 23:59
Join us for a complimentary lunchtime Brown Bag Concert featuring the Armen Donelian Trio!

Armen Donelian
…Brings a serene sense of dignity and elegance to every measure. (Berkshire Eagle)
…But don’t underestimate his ability to swing hard and throw punches. (Phildelphia Weekly)
In 25 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle and Far East, ARMEN DONELIAN has performed and recorded since 1975 as a featured solo pianist, bandleader, and with Jazz legends including Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Paquito D’Rivera, Mongo Santamaria, David Liebman and Billy Harper.
A pianist with a crystalline touch but a penchant for avant gardism (New York Times), Armen Donelian has performed in the Bilsak, Burlington, Caramoor, Cinco de Mayo, Hennessey, Istanbul, Jacksonville, Jazz Jamboree, Jerusalem, Montreal, Nemu-no Sato, Oshanitsky, Ottawa, Pori, Portsmouth, Toronto Harbourfront, Tucson, Veneto and Yerevan Jazz Festivals.
A poetic composer (Swing Journal) of 100 works, Armen Donelian has produced 14 critically acclaimed recordings backed by top-shelf New York artists including Eddie Gomez, Billy Hart, Jay Anderson, Bill Stewart, Dick Oatts, Dean Johnson, Marc Mommaas, Tyshawn Sorey and
Dennis Mackrel. In his 2014 two-CD release Sayat-Nova: Songs Of My Ancestors (Sunnyside), with David Clark and George Schuller, Donelian transforms 18th Century Armenian folk songs into Jazz masterpieces with Countless exquisite moments (Downbeat).
Armen Donelian is a six-time Jazz Performance Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts for concerts and master classes in New York City, and a Fulbright Senior Scholar and Specialist in Armenia, Finland, Greece Sweden, Switzerland and Romania. A faculty member at New School Jazz (1986-present) and William Paterson University (1993-2017), he has lectured in Athens, Bucharest, Corfu, Copenhagen, Gothenberg, Graz, The Hague, Helsinki, Iasi, Jyväskylä, Lisbon, Malmö, Paris, St. Petersburg, Tblisi, Vienna, Yerevan and Zurich.
Armen Donelian has published Training The Ear Vols. 1 & 2, Whole Notes: A Piano Masterclass and Ancestral Songs. A graduate of Columbia University (1972), Donelian studied privately with Carl Bamberger (conducting), Ludmila Ulehla (harmonic analysis), Harold Seletsky (Schoenberg theory and counterpoint) and Richie Beirach (jazz piano). www.armendonelian.com

Armen Donelian Trio Musicians
Armen Donelian, piano
David Clark, bass
George Schuller, drums

Youth Orchestra of San Antonio
2022-06-19 00:00 - 23:59
The Youth Orchestra of San Antonio performs at Mechanics Hall while on their New England Tour
The mission of Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, the premier orchestral experience for youth citywide, is to enhance education, enrich the community, and transform lives by pursuing excellence in classical music in a stimulating, nurturing, and fun environment that is equally accessible to all youth.
YOSA provides young musicians of all backgrounds the opportunity to play music together so they can learn, grow, and thrive while connecting with the community. YOSA changes kids’ lives through music. We provide transformative music experiences to more than 2,500 young musicians ages 8-20 through YOSA Orchestras, YOSA Summer Symphony Camp, and YOSA School Partnerships. YOSA connects motivated young musicians together and provides a world-class experience that helps youth grow creatively, academically, and socially.
YOSA envisions a community where all musically-inclined youth in San Antonio have a chance to pursue their interests and maximize their potential. YOSA seeks ways to remove financial and social barriers to high-quality music education and designs its activities around this purpose.

Gordon Lightfoot
2022-06-24 00:00 - 23:59
"I can't think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don't like. Every time I hear a song of his, I wish it would last forever. " – Bob Dylan
"Gordon Lightfoot has created some of the most beautiful and lasting music of our time." – Kris Kristofferson
After more than 50 active years of hit song making and international album sales well into the multi-millions, it's safe to say that esteemed singer-songwriter and musician Gordon Lightfoot resides with some very exclusive company atop the list of all-time greats. Lightfoot has recorded 20 albums, has five Grammy nominations and is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His song catalog is incredibly vast and includes such immortals as “Early Morning Rain,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway,” “Sundown,” “(That's What You Get) For Lovin Me,” “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald," "Canadian Railroad Trilogy," "Ribbon Of Darkness," "Beautiful," "Song For A Winter's Night" and "Rainy Day People.”
Aside from his success in writing, singing and performing his own songs, Lightfoot has found fortune in having his songs recorded and performed by other great artists including Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Jr., Jerry Lee Lewis, Judy Collins, Johnny Mathis, Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand, Peter Paul & Mary and more.
Tickets are $44, $59, $74 and $89 depending on seat location. For more information, call the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469).

Menopause The Musical®
2022-06-25 19:30 - 23:59
The Hilarious Celebration of Women and the Change!®
Come join our sisterhood!
Four women at a lingerie sale have nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more! This hilarious musical parody set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! See what more than 15 million women and fans worldwide have been laughing about for 18 years.

Recommended for ages 14+.
Tickets are $29, $39 and $49 depending on seat location. Discounts are available for members and groups of 10 or more. For more information, call the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469).

John Philip Sousa National Honor Band NE Region Concert
2022-06-29 00:00 - 23:59
Fun Fact: The 2022 Band consists of 90 students from 25 states!
About the John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band:
The John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band was formed in 1981 and met biannually for over twenty years under the direction of Col. John R. Bourgeois, former conductor of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band of Washington, D.C. The group met for many years in Washington, D.C. and also in New Orleans, Louisiana. It met most recently in Boston, Massachusetts, presenting a concert in historical Fanueil Hall under the director of Col. Jason Fettig, the present conductor of the United States Marine Band. The members of the Board of Directors of the John Philip Sousa Foundation are pleased to be able to offer the event once again. Students who were in grades 9 – 12 in September of 2021 from all fifty states and territories of the United States of America were invited to audition for this 2022 Sousa Honor Band.
Concert Program:
Who's Who in Navy Blue- John Philip Sousa
Firefly – Ryan George
Irish Tune from County Derry – Percy Aldridge Grainger
Four Scottish Dances – Malcolm Arnold (trans. John P. Paynter)
America, The Beautiful – Samuel Ward (arr. Carmen Dragon)
Frank L. Battisti – Guest Conductor
Hymn for the Innocent – Julie Giroux
Conga del Fuego Nuevo – Arturo Marquez (arr. Nicel)
The Stars and Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa

2022 John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band
2022-06-29 00:00 - 23:59
The John Philip Sousa Foundation is proud to be the sponsor of a very special event occurring June 29, 2022 in Worcester, Massachusetts – The John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band. This group will be performing in historic Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 7pm and will consist of over 90 high school students selected, by audition, from across the country. The band is being conducted by Colonel Michael J. Colburn, former Director of the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Mechanics Hall was the site of at least 27 performances by the original Sousa Band conducted by John Philip Sousa himself. The Sousa National High School Honor Band was formed in 1981 and met biannually for over twenty years under the direction of Col. John R. Bourgeois, former conductor of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band of Washington, D.C. It met most recently in 2018 in Boston, presenting a concert in historical Fanueil Hall under the Marine Band’s present director, Col. Jason Fettig.

Music Worcester Presents: Wynton Marsalis
2022-07-08 00:00 - 23:59
Wynton Marsalis has been described as the most outstanding jazz musician and trumpeter of his generation, as one of the world’s top classical trumpeters, as a big band leader in the tradition of Duke Ellington, a brilliant composer, a devoted advocate for the Arts and a tireless and inspiring educator. He carries these distinctions well. His life is a portrait of discipline, dedication, sacrifice, and creative accomplishment.
His septet will perform at The Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA on July 8 at 8PM.

Music Worcester Presents: Tony DeSare's "Sinatra and Beyond"
2022-07-14 00:00 - 23:59
From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall to Las Vegas headlining with Don Rickles and major symphony orchestras, Tony DeSare has brought his fresh take on old school class around the globe. DeSare has three top ten Billboard jazz albums under his belt and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion, the Today Show and his music has been posted by social media celebrity juggernaut, George Takei.
DeSare's "Sinatra and Beyond" program comes to historic Mechanics Hall on Thursday, July 14 at 7:30 PM.

Her Name Is America
2022-07-23 00:00 - 23:59
Worcester's Youth Poet Laureate, Adael Mejia, teams up with long-time friend, Jayson Dominguez, to bring a fresh form of theater! Experience this 21st century operatic rhapsody told through performance and synesthesia in art.
Relive the nostalgia through the eyes of an orphan being raised by his abuela. Adael named this play "Her Name Is America" after his grandmother, America Cepeda.
See a mural that runs across the PopUp wall and an art exhibit created by 4 independent female artists, displayed for public viewing in the PopUp.
Make sure to stop by for food and drinks brought to you by authentic tastes of Worcester.

FREE Organ Concert featuring Stefan Donner
2022-08-03 00:00 - 23:59
Join us for a complimentary lunchtime organ concert featuring Stefan Donner!

Stefan Donner, organ
Stefan Donner has earned degrees from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (highest honors) where he studied organ, piano and conducting. He also received his Master's degree in organ performance from the Conservatory of Amsterdam. In addition to his studies, Stefan has also participated in master classes with Jacques van Oortmerssen, Edorado Bellotti, Joris Verdin and Olivier Latry. He has notably received a 2014-15 Fulbright Scholarship to study organ and harpsichord at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY (USA). Stefan is the recipient of various awards, including first prize in the 2010 Franz-Schmidt-Organ Competition (Austria), and third prize in the 2011 Dublin International Organ Competition.
Besides various radio and television recordings, Stefan has recorded CDs performing on the Dacci organ of St. Salvator Vienna and on the Buckow organ from the musical instruments collection of the Technical Museum Vienna. These albums notably document his artistic proficiency as a concert organist.
Stefan has performed extensively all over Europe, and in farther countries including Turkey, Israel, the USA, and Australia. As a soloist, he is regularly invited to perform in
prestigious organ festivals; previous engagements include the Berliner Orgelpower 2012, the 2016 Terra Sancta Organ Festival, the 2017 Kremnica Castle Organ Festival and the 2017 Tallinn Organ Festival. In 2017 he was invited to lecture on J. S. Bach’s Organ- Triosonatas at the Władysław Żeleński’s Secondary School of Music in Krakow, Poland.

Program
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 538 ("Dorian"): Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Four Sketches for the pedal piano, op. 58: Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
1. Nicht schnell und sehr markiert
2. Nicht schnell und sehr markiert
3. Lebhaft
4. Allegretto
Sonata Nr. 4 in A Minor, op. 98 Rheinberger
1. Tempo moderato
2. Intermezzo
3. Fuga cromatica. Tempo moderato

About The Worcester Organ
The Hook Organ, installed in 1864, dominates the Great Hall. American organ builders Elias and George Hook, brothers from Boston, constructed the 52-stop, 3,504-pipe instrument, which is often referred to as the "Worcester Organ." Today, the Hook organ is the oldest unaltered four-keyboard pipe organ in the Western Hemisphere located at its installation site.
Restored in 1982, the Hook Organ since then has become one of the most popular and respected organs in the United States. It has been featured numerous times on National Public Radio, performed in several recordings, and has been featured on television and in a major motion picture, as well as in a music video starring Michael Crawford, the original "Phantom of the Opera."
See the specifications of the Hook Organ
Read more about the Hook Organ at HookOrgan.org

FREE Organ Concert with Marshall & Shaylen Joos
2022-08-10 00:00 - 23:59
Join us for a complimentary lunchtime organ concert featuring Marshall & Shaylen Joos!
Please join us for an unusual and exciting combination of instruments: the mighty Hook organ with the beautiful orchestral harp. The organ’s 30 pedals blend with the harp’s seven pedals as played by sibling young artists Marshall (organ) and Shaylen (harp) Joos. The hall’s amazing acoustics will meld the glorious overtones of both instruments in a delightful array of compositions by Bach, Salzedo, Faure, and Debussy.
Marshall Joos, organ
Marshall Joos, age 18, is a rising sophomore Organ Performance major at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music studying under Ken Cowan. He began his organ studies at the age of ten under Lorrie Dodson with scholarships from the Young Organist Collaborative (YOC), a New Hampshire-based non-profit focused on investing in the next generation of organists. He is a two-time winner of the YOC’s Penn Brown Scholarship for Advanced Organ Studies. In Fall 2018, Marshall began studying organ under Christian Lane of the Boston Organ Studio. Under Mr. Lane’s direction, Marshall competed and won 1st place in the Boston Chapter of the Regional Competition for Young Organists in March of 2019, went on to place 2nd at the Northeast Regional Convention in Buffalo, NY in July, and was also the 2019 1st place winner of the L. Cameron Johnson Scholarship Competition in Storrs, CT. In 2021, he was featured on NPR’s “From the Top” (Episode 396) and received the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. He was the 2021 Boston Chapter winner of the Regional Competition for Young Organists and in May went on to receive 2nd place in the Northeast Regional Competition for Young Organists. He was the 2021 recipient of the Methuen Memorial Music Hall scholarship awarded to graduating seniors pursuing a music degree. Most recently, Marshall was awarded the prestigious Pogorzelski-Yankee Memorial Scholarship by the American Guild of Organists. Marshall has enjoyed playing in concerts throughout New England, most notably on the organ at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall (Methuen, MA), the Kotzschmar organ at Merrill Auditorium (Portland, ME), and on the Charles Fisk organ at the historic Old West Church (Boston, MA). Marshall frequently plays organ and piano at Heritage Baptist Church in Dover, NH. In his spare time, he enjoys arranging sacred music, spending time with his family, and playing with his dog, Sandy.
Shaylen Joos, harp
Shaylen Joos, age 18, is a rising sophomore Harp Performance major at the New England Conservatory in Boston, NH. She studies under Jessica Zhou of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She began her harp studies at the age of ten under Erica Driscoll. She was one of eight finalists in the 2018 international Young Artist’s Harp competition in Kenyon, OH, and placed in the American Harp Society’s (AHS) national competitions in 2019 and 2021. With scholarships from the AHS, Shaylen has twice attended Curtis Institute of Music’s Summerfest Harp Colony and was able to study under internationally acclaimed harpists Elizabeth Hainen and Judy Loman. She has enjoyed working with the Nashua Chamber Orchestra, the New Hampshire Philharmonic, the Seacoast Wind Ensemble, the Musical Youth of the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (MyPSO), the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the North Shore Theatre, and the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. Shaylen was chosen to be featured on NPR’s radio show From the Top (episode 394) in January of 2021 and is a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award recipient. Shaylen frequently plays at Heritage Baptist Church in Dover, NH. When not practicing, she also enjoys reading, listening to classical music, beating her family at games, and spending time with her cousins.
About The Worcester Organ
The Hook Organ, installed in 1864, dominates the Great Hall. American organ builders Elias and George Hook, brothers from Boston, constructed the 52-stop, 3,504-pipe instrument, which is often referred to as the "Worcester Organ." Today, the Hook organ is the oldest unaltered four-keyboard pipe organ in the Western Hemisphere located at its installation site.
Restored in 1982, the Hook Organ since then has become one of the most popular and respected organs in the United States. It has been featured numerous times on National Public Radio, performed in several recordings, and has been featured on television and in a major motion picture, as well as in a music video starring Michael Crawford, the original "Phantom of the Opera."
See the specifications of the Hook Organ
Read more about the Hook Organ at HookOrgan.org

WICN Vinyl Paint & Pop-Up
2022-08-12 00:00 - 23:59
National Vinyl Record Day is Friday, August 12th, and we want to celebrate with you.
Come by WICN Studio 50 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm for a special Vinyl Pop-Up Sale!
We will feature records from all your favorite genres, including folk, rock, pop, and blues. As a special treat, we will also be hosting a Vinyl Painting activity!*
Take a break from record shopping and join us in Studio 50 to get creative! Records and paint will be provided, so you don't have to worry about bringing your own supplies.
Sign up to reserve your spot today!

*The fee for painting is $10 and will increase to $15 at the door.

Out To Lunch Festival & Farmers' Market: 8/18/22
2022-08-18 00:00 - 23:59
The City of Worcester and the Worcester Cultural Coalition are pleased to announce the return of the Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers’ Markets for 2022! Out To Lunch will be held on the Worcester Common from 11am to 2pm August 4th, August 18th, and September 1st, with a rain date of Thursday, September 8th.
Now in its 12th year, Out to Lunch events are free and open to the public, hosting musical performances, local artists and crafters, area restaurants, farmers, and community organizations and nonprofits. More information can be found on the City of Worcester website: http://www.worcesterma.gov/worcester-common-oval/out-to-lunch.
East Coast Soul perform funk, soul, and R&B on August 18th (rain date September 8).
As with all City of Worcester events, the latest COVID-19 guidance will be observed to ensure public safety. Learn more at: http://www.worcesterma.gov/coronavirus

Jazz at Sunset '22
2022-08-19 00:00 - 23:59
The Hanover Theatre and 90.5 WICN Public Radio, in collaboration with Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District, are pleased to present Jazz at Sunset 2022, featuring singer, songwriter, and sax player extraordinaire, Grace Kelly!
Grace has been part of the WICN family since she was a 12-year-old prodigy. Come and enjoy the cool sounds of live jazz as the area behind the theatre is transformed into an outdoor, picnic-style concert venue that will include food trucks and cash bars. Doors open at 5:30pm; show begins at 6:30pm.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Grace Kelly has announced a new U.S. tour supporting her upcoming album, All That I Need. This Jazz at Sunset concert will be the tour kick-off!
After two years of isolation, Grace Kelly is excited to get back on the road and see her fans again. The tour name, Good To See You Again, was inspired by the time she spent away from her fans during the pandemic. “It’s been a long time!” says Kelly. “This will feel like a reunion!”
Kelly’s honors include multiple ASCAP Composer Awards, Song of the Year in the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and has been named nine times consecutively in the annual Downbeat Magazine's Critics Poll Rising Star, Alto Saxophone award from the age of 17 in 2009 and winning the poll in 2017 (Youngest ever named to the Downbeat critics poll in 2009.). She has played in the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and was featured in Amazon’s Emmy-nominated series Bosch.
Grammy and Academy Award winner and bandleader for The Late Show with Steven Colbert, Jon Batiste, has called Grace Kelly a performer with “electric charisma.” In a statement, Kelly remarked how live performance is one of her favorite things to do and that connecting with her audience is a special experience. She says, “We need that human-to-human connection more than ever during these times, and it’s going to feel amazing to come together to sing, dance, and set our spirits free!”
Get your tickets now!

Live Music by Gracie Day @ The Mercantile
2022-08-21 00:00 - 23:59
Enjoy live music by Gracie Day on the rooftop Sunday, August 21st, 4 PM – 7 PM.

Live Music by 'The Cover Daddys' @ The Mercantile
2022-08-28 00:00 - 23:59
Enjoy live music by 'The Cover Daddys" Sunday, August 28th @ 4 PM – 7 PM.

Out To Lunch Festival & Farmers' Market: 9/1/22
2022-09-01 00:00 - 23:59
The City of Worcester and the Worcester Cultural Coalition are pleased to announce the return of the Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers’ Markets for 2022! Out To Lunch will be held on the Worcester Common from 11am to 2pm August 4th, August 18th, and September 1st, with a rain date of Thursday, September 8th.
Now in its 12th year, Out to Lunch events are free and open to the public, hosting musical performances, local artists and crafters, area restaurants, farmers, and community organizations and nonprofits. More information can be found on the City of Worcester website: http://www.worcesterma.gov/worcester-common-oval/out-to-lunch.
Whitney Doucet and the Moonshine Band perform New England country music September 1st (rain date September 8).
As with all City of Worcester events, the latest COVID-19 guidance will be observed to ensure public safety. Learn more at: http://www.worcesterma.gov/coronavirus

Champions for Children
2022-09-08 00:00 - 23:59
Champions for Children is an evening to celebrate, honor, and raise funds to ensure the continuing efforts of advocacy and support of children in Worcester County that have been abused or neglected.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Project Worcester County is a not-for-profit organization committed to speaking for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the Worcester County Courts. The CASA Project, a member of the National CASA Association, recruits, screens, and trains community volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), also known as Guardians ad Litem (GAL). Appointed by judges to help on the most heart-breaking cases in the foster care system, CASAs help abused and neglected children navigate the Worcester County Juvenile Courts, one child or sibling group at a time.
Champions for Children will feature seven local multicultural food vendors serving samples of their unique cuisine, a cash bar, and live entertainment. This event will honor five members of the community, thanking them for their important role in advancing the work of the organization. The event raises critical funds for CASA Project Worcester County to recruit, screen, and train volunteers from the community to be appointed advocates for children that have been abused or neglected in Worcester County.
