Here are five picks for the weekend:
- Flower crowns, Vikings and Swedish meatballs: A 123-year-old tradition returns to Shrewsbury on Saturday, June 27, as the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival takes over SAC Park from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The celebration features the traditional raising of the Midsummer pole, live folk music and dancing, Scandinavian food, crafts, vendors and family activities. Visitors can enjoy Swedish meatballs, waffles, lingonberry treats and Scandinavian beverages while browsing gifts and handmade goods. This year’s festival also welcomes the return of the Boston Viking Irish, whose encampment includes combat demonstrations, crafts, games and a Viking tournament. Whether you’re tracing your Scandinavian roots or simply looking for something different to do, the festival offers a full day of culture, food and old-world traditions just a few miles from Worcester.
- A Worcester art show built by Worcester artists: If you’re looking to escape the summer heat for an hour or two, head to the Cantor Art Gallery at College of the Holy Cross, where “La Machina de los Sueños” is on view through July 31. Curated by Worcester artists and community organizers Vanessa Calixto and John Vo, the exhibition brings together more than 15 artists connected to El Salón, a collective dedicated to amplifying the voices of BIPOC creatives. Through painting, mixed media, and other forms of expression, the artists explore identity, belonging, community and collective imagination. Admission is free. Summer gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. in the Prior Performing Arts Center on the Holy Cross campus.
- Celebration meets history: Pride Month continues with the annual Stonewall Pride Block Party on Saturday, June 27, beginning at 7 p.m. at MB Lounge. More than just a night out, the event honors the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall uprising and the pioneers of the LGBTQIA+ rights movement while celebrating Worcester’s vibrant community today. The evening features music from DJ Kris Kay, a drag show hosted by Daishadore Famouz and Big Booty Bootz beginning at 9 p.m., dancing, and plenty of Pride spirit. Admission is $20.
- No experience? No porpoise… er, problem: Get your hands a little dirty and leave with a handmade creation during the Make a Pinch Pot Puffer Fish workshop on Sunday, June 28, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Clayground Paint Your Own Pottery Studio. Participants will learn the basics of hand-building with raw clay while creating an adorable puffer fish that can be customized with their own designs. The class is open to all ages, with children under 7 welcome with a parent’s help. Once the pottery is dried and fired, participants can return to glaze their piece before a second firing makes it fully functional. The $30 fee includes all materials, glazing and both firings.
- Local music legends on the lake: The Silverbacks don’t play often, which is exactly why fans tend to circle the date when they do. Catch the veteran Worcester rock band on Sunday, June 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Marine Corps League, 181 Lake Ave. Anchored by guitarist Cliff Goodwin and vocalist Mike Lynch, the group features a lineup of longtime area musicians known for delivering high-energy rock and R&B with decades of experience behind them. Arrive early to grab a table, order from the full food menu, and settle in for an afternoon of live music overlooking Lake Quinsigamond.
For more events, visit the Discover Central Massachusetts events calendar.
Have an event, news tip, idea for a feature, information, joke, favorite recipe or anything else you’d like to tell us about? You should. Contact carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
