This weekend, downtown Worcester can take you from the dark side of the moon to a lantern-lit night market — with a denim runway and some seriously heavy metal in between.
The lineup stretches well beyond music, too. Brit Floyd brings its elaborate Pink Floyd tribute to The Hanover Theatre, while Mechanics Hall turns into a fashion runway for Queer AF and the Palladium goes considerably louder with Dying Fetus and Sanguisugabogg. On Saturday, the Worcester Night Market fills the Common with food, art, performances and hundreds of lanterns. And at Holy Cross, the story of Celtics greats Bob Cousy and Bill Russell moves from the basketball court to the stage.
Here are five picks for the weekend:
- Worcester lights up after dark: Downtown gets a Southeast Asian-inspired glow Saturday, Sept. 19, when the Worcester Night Market fills City Hall and the Common with hundreds of lanterns from 4 to 9:30 p.m. The free festival brings together dozens of food and artisan vendors, live performances, local artists, interactive activities and plenty of reasons to wander after sunset, taking its inspiration from the bustling night markets found throughout Southeast Asia. Presented by RICEMA, Sugi Matcha and Mint Kitchen & Bar, the event is designed as both a celebration of Worcester’s diverse cultures and a pretty spectacular excuse to spend a September night downtown.
- Wish you were here — Worcester edition: Pink Floyd fans can head to the dark side Friday, Sept. 18, when Brit Floyd brings its massive “The Moon, The Wall and Beyond” world tour to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory at 8 p.m. The internationally touring tribute production puts two landmark albums — “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall” — at the center of a show loaded with lasers, video projections, inflatables, theatrical staging and, of course, the music that made Pink Floyd one of rock’s most enduring bands. Brit Floyd has played more than 1,500 shows in more than 40 countries, so this is considerably more elaborate than a few guys playing “Comfortably Numb” at the corner bar. Tickets range from $50 to $90, including fees, with a limited number of $190 VIP soundcheck and meet-and-greet tickets available.
- Dressing up denim: Blue jeans go decidedly black tie Friday, Sept. 18, when Love Your Labels brings its Queer AF Art+Fashion Show back to Mechanics Hall. Billed as the “Queer Met Gala of Massachusetts,” this year’s fundraiser puts denim at the center of the runway, with designers using the famously hardworking fabric to explore identity, history, resistance and reinvention through fashion and art. Guests are encouraged to get creative with their own denim, too, for an evening celebrating style, community and self-expression during Big Queer Worcester Weekend. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show running from 8-10:30 p.m.
- Death metal does not do subtle: The Palladium gets very loud, very fast Saturday, Sept. 19, when Dying Fetus and Sanguisugabogg bring a night of extreme metal to Main Street. Formed in Maryland in 1991, Dying Fetus has spent more than three decades building its reputation on technical guitar work, relentless drumming, guttural vocals and crushing breakdowns. Sanguisugabogg shares the bill, along with Crowbar, Left to Suffer and Deterioration, making this one decidedly unsuitable for anyone hoping for a quiet evening downtown. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the show starts at 6:30, and it’s all ages.
- A final assist from one Celtics legend to another: Basketball history moves from the parquet to the stage Friday, Sept. 18, when “The Last Pass” premieres as a staged reading at the Prior Performing Arts Center at Holy Cross. Adapted by Vincent Murphy from Gary Pomerantz’s bestselling book, the work looks beyond the Celtics dynasty to the complicated relationship between Bob Cousy and Bill Russell — teammates whose extraordinary partnership on the court unfolded against the racial tensions of mid-century America. At its center is Cousy’s later-life reckoning with whether he understood enough, or did enough, as Russell confronted racism on and off the court. Performances are at 4-7:30 p.m. at 1 College St., with tickets priced at $35 and $50, including fees.
For more events, visit the Discover Central Massachusetts events calendar.
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