City Tries To Bring 100 Events To Worcester Common This Year

WORCESTER, MA — With February nearly half over, the campaign is off to a good start. Worcester's looking to bring 100 events to the Worcester Common in 2017, with the Blizzard of 1978 skate party under its belt, and weekly Friday skate nights on the oval.

To complement a surge of new businesses in downtown Worcester, City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. announced recently that he has challenged his staff and the community to make 2017 the biggest year on the Common yet.

Last week, the City of Worcester is launched #Worcester100, a campaign to bring 100 events to the area of the Common this year.

Other events planned include the popular Out to Lunch Concert Series, a weekly farmers' market, yoga on the Common and the 6th Annual Worcester Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival, which will move downtown from Elm Park this year.

More than $10 million has been invested in the Common, including the new Oval skating rink, over the last five years, and Worcester police have added foot beat officers to the area.

"We want to give anyone who hasn't been downtown recently a reason to visit, and to see the transformation that's taking place," said City Manager Augustus in a statement. "For centuries, the Worcester Common has been a gathering place for our community, let's continue that legacy and make downtown the vibrant hub our city deserves."

A crowdsourcing page has been set up on the city's website to gather ideas from the public for more community events.

Throughout the year, visitors to Common events are encouraged to post their photos with the hashtag #Worcester100. The best photos will be featured on the city's social media platforms.

Find a list of updated events here.

What are your ideas for Worcester Common? Share them in the comments section below.

Photo via Worcester Public Schools