Worcester Tercentennial: Celebration Includes Parade, Festival

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester officials on Tuesday revealed plans for the city's 300th anniversary celebration, also known as the "tercentennial."

Over the second weekend in June, the city will host a parade, festival and other activities to mark the Heart of the Commonwealth's 300th birthday. Worcester was founded as a town on June 14, 1722, and became a city on Feb. 29, 1848 (which means the city's 174th birthday is right around today).

Over those 300 years, Worcester has given the world Valentine's Day cards, actors and artists like Abbie Hoffman and H. Jon Benjamin, cycling pioneer Major Taylor, the smiley face and a questionable landmark fountain.

“We look forward to celebrating with and among all our residents and showing the world why
Worcester is both the Heart of New England and the birthplace of the Smiley Face," Major Joseph Petty said in a news release.

The 300th anniversary will also signal the return of two events that have been gone since the start of the pandemic. The city's July 4 fireworks will be back this year and will be held on June 30. And, stART on the Street will host art events during the tercentennial as that festival prepares to return in 2022.

Here's the lineup of events planned for the June 10 weekend (officials also said there's a "signature tercentennial event" that will be announced at a later date):

June 10

• 5 p.m. — Tercentennial weekend begins with a Canal District stroll and fireworks at Polar Park

June 11

• 10 a.m. — Tercentennial road race in downtown Worcester
• 11 a.m. — Tercentennial parade
• Noon to 5 p.m. — Tercentennial festival behind City Hall with artists, music and food trucks

June 12

• 4 p.m. — Tercentennial family outing at a Worcester Bravehearts game