Here are the Worcester Guardian’s five picks for things to do in Worcester this weekend:
- Roar into the year of the fire horse: The EcoTarium is ringing in the Lunar New Year with a burst of color, rhythm and tradition on Sunday, Feb. 15. Head to the museum’s lower level at 12:15 p.m. for a live Lion Dance performance by the SUN Lion Dance Team from the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts (SEACMA). The celebration welcomes the Year of the Fire Horse and offers a lively way to experience one of the world’s most vibrant cultural traditions right here in Worcester. The EcoTarium is located in Worcester; the performance begins at 12:15 p.m.
- Dragging through brunch: Joslyn Fox — Worcester’s own queen from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 — is back for another event at Femme, this time alongside Victoria Obvious and Kandi Dishe for a Galentine’s Drag Brunch. Expect high glam, big laughs and the signature antics of 22 Degrees, plus live entertainment paired with what’s billed as Worcester’s most fabulous brunch buffet (regulars swear by the chicken and waffles). Femme was created as a safe space for lesbian and queer women, but the welcome mat is out for anyone who brings good energy and an appetite for a “great, gay time.” Sunday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m.
- Love Stinks? So funk It: Skip the roses and lean into the groove. Miss Fairchild headlines a pre-Valentine’s Day throwdown Friday, Feb. 13, at Ralph’s Diner, bringing its original funk and R&B to the stage. The Worcester-based band, led by Travis Richard, has been packing local clubs with tight arrangements, deep-pocket grooves and room for extended jams. Joining the bill: Boston’s The Macrotones (funky psychedelic soul) and The Valley Moonstompers Society (classic ska, rocksteady and dub from the Pioneer Valley). Doors open at 8 p.m., music starts at 9. The show is 21+ and $15 at the door. Ralph’s is at 148 Grove St., Worcester.
- You can dance, you can jive (at The Palladium): Calling all Dancing Queens: Gimme Gimme Disco lands in Worcester on Saturday, Feb. 14, turning The Palladium into a full-blown glitter bomb of ABBA anthems and ’70s and ’80s disco classics. This DJ-driven dance party spins wall-to-wall favorites from ABBA, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Cher and more—the kind of songs that make standing still physically impossible. Expect sequins, singalongs and a whole lot of hands in the air. Break out the sparkle and prepare to rule the dance floor. The beats start to drop at 8 p.m.
- Owl be your Valentine: Trade candlelight for twilight at the Owl Prowl for Families on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 5-6:30 p.m. at 414 Massasoit Road in Worcester. This early-evening program invites families to learn about owl adaptations, test out owl calls and head out on the sanctuary trails in search of the real thing. Ever wonder how owls fly so silently — or whether they can really turn their heads all the way around? Here’s your chance to find out. Admission is $15 for adult members and $18 for nonmembers; $10 for child members and $12 for nonmembers. For details, call 508-753-6087.
For more events, visit the Discover Central Massachusetts events calendar.
Have an event, news tip, information, joke, favorite recipe or anything else you’d like to tell us about? You should. Contact carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
