Worcester Tercentennial hits peak celebration mode June 10th through June 12th and you won’t want to miss out. Here are nine opportunities to partake in the weekend festivities:
1. KICK-OFF THE WEEKEND WITH A CANAL DISTRICT STROLL
Friday, June 10th, 6pm
Head to the Canal District for a Stroll through local shops and the Worcester Public Market. You’ll find special deals and giveaways across the whole neighborhood!
2. SEE RICKY DURAN & FIREWORKS AT POLAR PARK
Friday, June 10th, 8pm
After, head to Polar Park for a national anthem performance featuring Ricky Duran, The Voice’s season 17 runner-up, followed by a spectacular fireworks show. Admission to Polar Park is free but requires tickets. Reserve yours by visiting the WooSox Ticket Office or calling (508) 500-8888.
3. WALK OR RUN THE TERCENTENNIAL 5K
Saturday, June 11th, 9am
Walk or run a 5K course through Downtown Worcester and the Canal District Saturday morning. Course details and the link to register can be found on WorcesterTercentennial.com.
4. WATCH THE TERCENTENNIAL PARADE
Saturday, June 11th, 11am
Worcester welcomes the Tercentennial Parade down Main Street, which promises to showcase our city’s diverse, local flair. Cultural groups will offer unique displays of identity, with the likes of Guardians of Traditions, Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association, Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, and Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage Parade. Worcester Railers HC, local dancers, and bike groups will also entertain onlookers.
5. EAT & SHOP AT THE TERCENTENNIAL FESTIVAL HOSTED BY START ON THE STREET
Saturday, June 11th, 12-5pm
The parade concludes in front of city hall, where you’ll find 150 vendors gathered for the Tercentennial Festival, beginning at noon. Food trucks, dozens of artists and crafters, and live entertainment will ignite the day with music, dancing, and creativity for all celebration-goers.
6. ATTEND A COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT
Sunday, June 12th, 4pm
A culmination of elation hits the stage with the Tercentennial Concert: Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with Special Guest Brian McKnight. Although free, tickets are required, so secure your GA admission to the DCU Center ASAP through Ticketmaster—the link is at WorcesterTercentennial.com.
7. CATCH A WORCESTER BRAVEHEARTS GAME WITH THE FAMILY
Sunday, June 12, 4pm
If you’ve got kids in tow, consider a Worcester Bravehearts game instead of the concert. The ’Hearts play the New Britain Bees at 4pm, and their games are always a blast for the whole family! Another reason kids love Sundays at the Bravehearts: they can run the bases after the game—it’s a home run experience!
8. SHOP THE SWAG!
Not in town that weekend? You’ll miss the festivities, but you can still sport your city pride by repping limited edition Tercentennial items from Worcester Wares!
9. TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
The more the merrier! This isn’t just for locals! Tell your friends from out of town to join you and bask in the glow of a community coming together to honor this historic, once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
FYI: Free Parking & Transportation
The city is pleased to offer free parking in municipal lots and garages downtown for patrons attending any Tercentennial events. Additionally, the WRTA’s fare-free program continues, making the events accessible to all. Public transportation is highly encouraged.
Monique Messier is the Executive Director of Discover Central MA, the official Regional Tourism Council of Worcester and Central MA. Interested in becoming a member of Discover Central MA? Email Kristin Esper, Membership & Sales Manager at kesper@discovercentralma.org.
This story was originally published in the May 2022 edition of Chamber Exchange: The Newspaper, a quarterly publication of the Chamber. All newspaper editions are archived here.
