Downtown Worcester

Halalisa Singers Perform Concert for the Earth
2023-04-29 00:00 - 2023-05-01 03:59 (America/New_York)
Boston-based world music vocal ensemble Halalisa Singers presents “Concert for the Earth,” a performance honoring Earth Day, featuring the “Missa Gaia (Earth Mass),” on Saturday, April 29, 8 pm, at First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester, and Sunday, April 30, 4 pm, at First Parish of Arlington, 630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington. Special guests include composer, singer, and guitarist Jim Scott, who joins the 30-voice choir as performer and soloist in his own works including “Missa Gaia” and “We Are the Earth,” and acclaimed saxophonist/vocalist Stan Strickland. Led by Artistic Director Mary Cunningham, the ensemble is also joined by pianist Trevor Berens, percussionists Bertram Lehmann and Fabio Pirozzolo, bassist Rick McLaughlin, and local branch members of the national climate movement organization Mothers Out Front. Tickets are $25, available at halalisa.org. For more information, email info@halalisa.org, visit halalisa.org, or follow Halalisa Singers on Facebook or Instagram.

An uplifting program that celebrates the beauty of the earth, “Concert for the Earth” also calls for action to stem the destructive tide of climate change. Composed in the early 1980s, the riveting “Missa Gaia (Earth Mass),” by Paul Winter, Paul Halley, and Jim Scott, weaves lyrical melodies with international gospel traditions, the calls of animals, and the songs of whales as a joyful tribute to the planet, reminding us of the incomparable beauty, preciousness and precariousness of nature.

“We are thrilled to sing the ’Missa Gaia’ with Jim Scott and Stan Strickland, and connect with the community in song about the urgent climate crisis,” says Cunningham. “This gorgeous piece, written 40 years ago, is a love song to the beauty of our world and still calls to us to care and appreciate our place in the interconnected web of all life. The mix of Gregorian chant and church hymns, Latin American and African rhythms, jazz and gospel ballads with the song of wolf and whale mixed in is quite a musical experience!”

The program’s second half features Kim Andre Arnesen’s “Song for Justice” from his “Beatitudes for a Wounded World,” Gwyneth Walker’s call for universal love in “Tree of Peace,” Moses Hogan’s soulful arrangement of “Wade in the Water” with Strickland as vocal soloist, and Diana Saez’s flowing “Yemaya,” as well as songs by Jim Scott including “Harmony,” “Common Ground,” and “We Are the Earth.” The chorus also sings climate movement anthems “The Tide Is Rising” by Rabbi Shoshana Friedman and Yotam Schachter, and “Do It Now: Sing for the Climate,” calling us to build a better future right now with Mothers Out Front, who add their singing voices and share information on how audience members can support climate justice. “We’re excited to include works by contemporary composers who call us to action,” says Cunningham. “The collaboration with Mothers Out Front offers opportunities to get involved and make a difference. Our music can move us to accomplish what our hearts desire and the time is now!”

Friends Spring Book Sale
2023-04-28 00:00 - 2023-04-30 03:59
The Ann Spitaels Friends Book Sale
Friday, April 28 & Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Prices from $0.50 to $2.00 on a huge selection of books and more for kids and adults.
$2.00 bagful of books from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 29th.
Fiction, Non-fiction, Hardcover, Softcover, Large Print, CDs, DVDs, Audio Books, Jigsaw Puzzles
Fundraiser in honor of longtime Friends volunteer Ann Spitaels, 1932-2023.

Music Worcester Presents: The Worcester Chorus | Ellington Sacred Soncert
2023-04-28 00:00 - 23:59
The Worcester Chorus, directed by Chris Shepard, returns to the stage at historic Mechanics Hall for a very special performance of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert with a big band ensemble.

Endometriosis and PMDD Awareness with Clark University's Menstrual Equity Alliance
2023-04-26 00:00 - 2023-04-27 03:59
April is PMDD awareness month and to raise awareness for this disease, join Clark University's student run and led club: Menstrual Equity Alliance for a night of conversation and education! We will be discussing endometriosis, PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome and other chronic pain and mental health issues that affect the endocrine and immune system that impact menstruation, fertility, and one's quality of life. Though these illnesses all function differently and are classified differently from each other, they are often categorized as "women's diseases" or diseases that only impact those affected on their periods when this is far from the truth. Whether you experience chronic pain or chronic mental health issues, know someone who does, or these terms are entirely new to you– all are welcome to this conversation and educational event.
Teens and adults welcome.

Great American Read Book Club (April)
2023-04-26 00:00 - 2023-04-27 03:59
Join us to discuss some of the most popular novels in the United States!
3/22: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
4/26: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
5/24: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

First Floor Reading Room

Poetry in Action: with Special Guest Worcester Youth Poet Laureate Adael Mejia
2023-04-24 00:00 - 2023-04-25 03:59
Join us to celebrate and experience the joy of poetry featuring Worcester’s Youth Poet Adael Mejia. In honor of National Poetry Month and National Library Week. Free Mini Notebooks for participants while supplies last.
Recommended for ages 7-11.

"A Walk in the Woo" - Worcester's 2022 Rain Poets Read
2023-04-23 00:00 - 2023-04-24 03:59
The Worcester County Poetry Association is pleased to organize this reading of Worcester's 2022 Rain Poets. For two years now, the WCPA has selected the poems of thirteen different Worcester-area poets to paint around the city using hydrophobic paint – that's right, these poems only show up when the concrete around them is wet, hence the Rain Poets. These poems will come to speak this April 23, given voice by their poets. We hope you'll join us and consider submitting a poem for this year's project!
The Worcester PopUp at the JMAC is a free-to-use, creative co-working space of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and in partnership with The Barr Foundation. This event does not necessarily reflect the views of either organization.

Earth Day Flower Arranging
2023-04-23 00:00 - 2023-04-24 03:59
Learn about flower arranging with Sally Jablonski, Herbert E. Berg Florist and award winning designer. For ages 18 & older.

Neil Berg's The 60's Peace, Love, and Rock N' Roll
2023-04-23 04:00 - 2023-04-24 03:59
GROUNDBREAKING MUSIC AND TRIBUTES
Neil Berg’s latest celebration of the greatest moments of rock and roll history combines behind-the-scenes stories of what actually took place at Woodstock, while presenting the legendary iconic music with the finest Broadway/Rock stars and musicians in the country! Including the music of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Crosby Stills, Nash (& Young), Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane and many more.
In an added twist, Neil will also include the legendary bands that turned down the invitation to play at Woodstock, bands such as: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Chicago, The Doors, Roy Rogers and more!
For everyone who wanted to be at Woodstock but wasn’t, Woodstock Revisited will make you feel like you are there!
Tickets are $45, $55 and $65 depending on seat location. Please contact the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469) for more information.
2 hours with a 20 minute intermission

Worcester Chamber Music Society: Swept Away - Mechanics Hall
2023-04-23 00:00 - 23:59
Swept Away
Sunday, April 23 | Mechanics Hall, Worcester @4 PM
in-person and virtual options
Evoking wind, mystery, and movement, with liquid lines by both harp and piano, works by Takemitsu, Caplet, and Fauré, will sweep you away at our last Main Stage concert of the season.
Program
Toru Takemitsu And Then I Knew ‘Twas Wind
André Caplet Conte Fantastique [Mask of the Red Death]
Gabriel Fauré Piano Quintet No. 1 in D minor
With guests Noriko Futagami, viola; and Franziska Huhn, harp
Tickets:
Adults $38, Seniors $32, Students $10, EBT/WIC $5, Youth 17 and under free
For EBT/WIC tickets, call the office at 508-978-8624 to order
This concert will also be performed Friday April 21 | Fitchburg Art Museum @7:30 PM

Working for Worcester Year 11 Build Day
2023-04-22 00:00 - 2023-04-23 03:59
Working for Worcester is a dynamic student-run nonprofit organization that has been making a positive impact on the city of Worcester for over a decade. Our mission is to create safe and accessible recreational infrastructure for the kids of Worcester.
Each year, we host our highly anticipated Build Day event, which brings together community members, local college students, and businesses to work towards a common goal of improving our city. This year, our Build Day rally will commence at Worcester City Hall at 9 am on April 22nd, 2023.
Once the rally has concluded, each volunteer departs to their pre-designated site out of our 22 different locations across the city of Worcester. These sites include building playgrounds, constructing indoor libraries, landscaping, and other exciting projects.
We are proud to say that with the help of our dedicated volunteers, we are able to complete most projects within the same day. Depending on your site, the projects will be completed before 4 pm.
Join us for a day of community building and making a difference in the lives of the Worcester community. We can't wait to see you there!

Buildwave | A hands-on family building game!
2023-04-22 00:00 - 2023-04-23 03:59
Want to foster your child's interest in STEM, while igniting their creative spark at the same time? Buildwave is a creative building program that feels like a video game! Over the course of the workshop families create with over a dozen different building materials, including Lego®, PlusPlus®, and custom-made Buildwave materials.
The workshop is structured like a videogame, with an audiovisual setup featuring animations and music that guide students through the different building waves. As your child creates with wave after wave of new objects, they build creative confidence, become better collaborators, and encounter design and engineering fundamentals in a unique and memorable context. Learn more by visiting our website www.buildwave.com.
Families with children ages 5-11.
Registration is required as space is limited; sign-up at mywpl.org

WHIRLWIND ''BTS EXPERIENCE''
2023-04-22 00:00 - 2023-04-23 03:59
Immersive yourself behind the scenes of the grounbreaking documentary ''Whirlwind’’- exploring the life and time of Marshall Walter ‘’Major’’ Taylor.
Meet and greet with the film creators, cast and crew right in thier elements.
Location design, costumes, film memorabilia ,props and the technology we are using to make the film are replicated during this event to give you a unique and authentic experience of ''Whirlwind'' film set and creative process.
We strongly beleive that fine films arts experiences should not be limited to Hollywood, our community desire and deserve access to the best of it as well.
This event is free, family freindly and accessible to all audience.
Seats are stricly limited to the venue capacity and we anticipate a full house; so please register Asap !
There is plenty and free parking on site and the Major Taylor Garage is just a block away.
This venue is accessible and ADA-compliant and welcome people with physical disabilities!

See you there for an afternoon of excitments and creative wonders !!

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Worcester Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
#WACFunded #ArtsMatterHere
#worcesterartscouncil #makearteverywhere #artsforall #worcesterart #ARPA
#worcesterartist #worcesterartists #supportlocalartists #localartists #localartist #creativeworcester #worcester
#worcesterma #worcestermass #discovercentralma #NEAarts

Local History Research with Postcards (Virtual)
2023-04-22 00:00 - 2023-04-23 03:59
Learn about the history of postcards and how to use this rich and fascinating resource for local history research.

Toe Jam Puppet Band
2023-04-20 00:00 - 2023-04-21 03:59
Toe Jam Puppet Band offers a special brand of hands-on children’s entertainment that grown-ups can actually enjoy. The performances are interactive, encouraging audience members to sing and dance along with the band as they entertain with a unique combination of original songs, masterful shadow puppetry, storytelling, and plenty of humor and fun! Sponsored by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library.
Ages: For families with children ages 11 and under.
Location: Pappas Children’s Center

Introduction to Foraging
2023-04-19 00:00 - 2023-04-20 03:59
Foraging is a great way to incorporate local, nutrition-packed foods into your diet. It’s a fun way to get outdoors with friends and family, and sustainable foraging has a positive impact on native ecosystems. Learn how to get started on your wild food foraging journey from selecting a guidebook to foraging through the seasons, along with identification of some common wild edibles in New England, preparation and preservation tips.
Rachel Goclawski, Forager and Certified educator, State-Certified in Mushrooming, is a Programmer for The Museum of Natural History, Sudbury Valley Trustees, New England Botanic Garden and other organizations. She is a contributing writer for The Cook's Cook: Now, Forager Magazine and has been featured in The Boston Globe, WBZ, Edible Worcester and Baystate Parent magazines, other news, documentaries and print. Rachel comes from a long line of foragers, including her great-grandfather, Arthur W. Fairbanks, co-founder of the Boston Mycological Club. Visit her Facebook, Instagram or YouTube for Forage to Table tips, recipe ideas and videos.

Reptiles Rock
2023-04-19 00:00 - 2023-04-20 03:59
Join Rainforest Reptiles and enjoy a fun and informative presentation, observe both small and large reptiles, and have the chance to touch both a snake and an alligator! Sponsored by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library.
For families with children ages 11 and under.

Craft Exchange
2023-04-18 00:00 - 2023-04-19 03:59
Calling all crafters! Bring your surplus materials, completed crafts, and equipment you no longer use to exchange with others. Help reduce, reuse, and recycle craft materials that are still usable.

Virtual Genealogy Club (April)
2023-04-18 00:00 - 2023-04-19 03:59
Please join fellow genealogists from WPL and the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists as we meet via Zoom to informally discuss the joys and challenges of sharing our passion for family history. Bring your curiosity, your latest research and those stubborn brick walls. All are welcome.

Virtual Science Fiction Book Club (April)
2023-04-18 00:00 - 2023-04-19 03:59
Do you like reading about spaceships, parallel worlds, aliens, telepathy, time travel or droids? Join us to discuss great SF & Fantasy fiction. Ages 16 and up are welcome.
3/21: The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch
4/18: Goldilocks by Laura Lam
5/16: Ringworld by Larry Niven

Easy Everyday Side Dishes: Cuban Yuca con Mojo & Thai Cucumber Salad with Chef Vanessa
2023-04-15 00:00 - 2023-04-16 03:59
Creating side dishes does not have to be the same thing from week to week when preparing food at home. In this class, Chef Vanessa will guide you through two easy recipes from Cuba & Thailand.
Cuban Yuca con Mojo is a popular starchy side dish served in a garlicky vinegar sauce enhanced with lime juice and red onions. Thai Cucumber Salad uses flavorful ingredients such as fish sauce and cilantro with spicy peppers. Both side dishes go well with grilled meat or seafood or simply enjoyed as you please.
Chef Vanessa is a Certified Nutrition & Wellness Coach with a focus on helping individuals achieve a healthy lifestyle. Nourishing food should not be boring! Visit Chef Vanessa’s website and Instagram for more information.

"SURVIVORS"
2023-04-15 00:00 - 2023-04-17 03:59
Crafted from the testimonies of ten Rochester, NY based Holocaust survivors, this play puts a human face on this horrific time in history. "Survivors" is a cautionary tale on the risks of normalized hate. This inspirational and uplifting play ensures that the voices of Holocaust survivors will never be silenced.
"Survivors" weaves the shocking and inspirational stories of Holocaust survivors: Eva Abrams, Erich Arndt, Arthur Herz, Ellen Lewinsky, Rosemarie Molser, Henry Silberstern, Helen Przysuskier, Evie Schuerman, Kurt Weinbach, and Carl Voldman.
“Survivors,” by Wendy Kout, is suitable for grade eight through adult audiences. This play about the past is both a warning and a wake-up call for the present and the future. Never forget! Never again! Never is now!

Downtown Worcester BID April Community Meeting
2023-04-14 00:00 - 2023-04-15 03:59
Join other Downtown stakeholders at our April community meeting on Friday, April 14 from 9-10am at Mercantile Center, 100 Front Street, on the 19th floor. Enjoy a morning of networking, refreshments from Fortissimo Coffeehouse, and fantastic views of Downtown Worcester!
REGISTER HERE
Downtown Worcester BID Community Meetings are always free and open to the public.

The Moth Mainstage
2023-04-13 04:00 - 2023-04-14 03:59
April 13th 2023, 7:30 pm
In its 20-year history, The Moth has presented more than 20 thousand stories, told live and without notes, by people from all walks of life to standing-room-only crowds worldwide.
PEABODY AWARD-WINNING
Recommended for ages 13+. Some stories may contain explicit language or material. Parental guidance is advised.
Hailed as “New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket” by The Wall Street Journal, The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. In its 20-year history, The Moth has presented more than 20 thousand stories, told live and without notes, by people from all walks of life to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. The “Moth Podcast” is downloaded more than 44 million times a year, and Peabody Award-winning “The Moth Radio Hour” airs weekly on more than 450 public radio stations nationwide. Beyond theater, The Moth Mainstage is a community where entertainment and enlightenment merge. Each Moth Mainstage features simple, old-fashioned storytelling by wildly divergent raconteurs who develop and shape their stories with The Moth’s directors. The Moth is true stories, told live and without notes, celebrating the ability of stories to honor both the diversity and commonality of human experience, and to satisfy a vital human need for connection. It seeks to present recognized storytellers among established and emerging writers, performers and artists, and to encourage storytelling among communities whose stories often go unheard.
Tickets are $47. Contact the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469) for more information.

RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles
2023-04-11 04:00 - 2023-04-12 03:59
April 11th 2023, 7:30 pm
RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES performs songs from Abbey Road & the Rooftop Concert LIVE, in addition to all your favorites hits. This mind-blowing performance takes you back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to seeing the Beatles. Experience the worlds’ most iconic band and get back to where you once belonged with RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES.
Tickets are $59, $69, $79 and $99 depending on seat location. Discount available for Subscribers. Contact the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469) for more information.

De-Stress with Dogs (April)
2023-04-10 00:00 - 2023-04-11 03:59
Visit with a registered therapy dog to bring a little rest and relaxation to your day. Therapy animals are generally privately owned pets who are brought by their handlers to places to bring joy and smiles. This program is made possible by Tufts Paws for People, which is a Community Partner of the Pet Partners organization.

Searching for Ancestors on Ancestry.com (Virtual)
2023-04-08 00:00 - 2023-04-09 03:59
Never used Ancestry.com? You're in for a treat. Used it before? Still more to learn. Please join us on Zoom as we mine the most popular of all genealogy databases for genealogical riches.

Pathways to Publication with Sisters in Crime
2023-04-08 00:00 - 2023-04-09 03:59
In this in-person panel, authors, Edith Maxwell and Janet Raye Stevens, will discuss their different journeys to publication, which include getting an agent and going with a large press to deciding to go with a small press or to self-publish.

Agatha Award winning Edith Maxwell writes the Quaker Midwife Mysteries and the Local Foods Mysteries. As Maddie Day she writes the Country Store Mysteries and the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries. Her short crime fiction has appeared in many juried anthologies. She was honored to serve as President of Sisters in Crime New England and is a Lifetime member of Sisters in Crime National, as well as a professional member of Mystery Writers of America. A fourth-generation Californian and former tech writer, farmer, and doula, Maxwell now writes, cooks, gardens, and wastes time as a Facebook addict north of Boston.
Janet Raye Stevens writes short stories and novel-length mystery, YA, and romance. Winner of RWA's 2018 Golden Heart Award, Janet lives in Massachusetts where she indulges her hobbies of drinking copious amounts of tea (Earl Gray, hot) plotting revenge (best served cold), and creating fictional worlds populated with cool chicks and hot guys. Janet describes her path to publication as a long, circuitous one, which gives her plenty of stories to tell. These include looking for a traditional publisher, entering many writing contests (and winning some awards) with agents/editors as the final judge, getting and switching agents, and other twists and turns until finally she went indie and published four books as well as a number of short stories. She grew up in Worcester and also worked at the WPL film library back in the 1980s.

Celebration: The Springtime Bunny is Here!
2023-04-07 00:00 - 2023-04-08 03:59
The Bunny will be here at the Worcester Public Library! Children and families are invited to a FREE visit with the Bunny for photographs, a take-home craft, and candy. Tickets for this meet & greet photo-op will be given to families before the program. While supplies last. Sponsored by Friends of the Worcester Public Library.
Ages: 11 and under
