This weekend’s got a free dance class to try for all levels, a special anniversary concert by the Worcester Chamber Music Society, professional puppets, the opening of “Still Puerto Rican” exhibit and blues at Vincent’s. Get out and do something.
Here are the Worcester Guardian’s five picks for things to do in Worcester this weekend:
- Still Puerto Rican: art + identity at WCUW: Harold Stevens Gallery at WCUW (910 Main St.) hosts the opening reception for “Still Puerto Rican” a new exhibit from acclaimed artist and Clark professor Antonio Fonseca Vázquez. Known for using diverse media to tackle themes of identity, bias, and cultural perception, Vázquez invites viewers into a timely conversation about what it means to be Puerto Rican in today’s polarized climate. The reception is Sunday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m.
- Blues beyond growing pains at Vincent’s: Friday night belongs to the Matt Swanton Band at Vincent’s (Sept. 26, 9 p.m.). Frontman Matt Swanton picked up the guitar at age 9 and never looked back—his journey has taken him from blues jams and UMass Lowell ensembles to the International Blues Challenge, where his band reached the semi-finals. With a self-titled debut under his belt and a new release, “Growing Pains”, the band brings a mix of seasoned chops and fresh energy. If you’re into blues that leans big, bold, and a little gritty, this one’s your jam.
- Step Into Sunday with free dance classes: Shake off the week and learn some new moves at Ms. Isabella’s beginner community dance class — no experience needed, just a willingness to have fun. The free drop-in class runs Sunday, Sept. 28, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at 50 Portland St., Suite 521 (inside the Printer Building, with free weekend parking). Open to ages 10 and up, it’s posture-improving, mood-lifting, and completely beginner-friendly.
- Strings Attached, Hearts Untangled: How do we hold on to what we’ve lost while embracing what remains? “Puno, Sewing Memories” from Indonesia’s celebrated Papermoon Puppet Theatre weaves that question into the story of Tala, a young girl learning to cope with her father’s passing. With breathtaking modernist puppets and a reputation as “a staple of the global arts festival circuit” (The New York Times), Papermoon brings a moving meditation on love, grief, and memory to Worcester. Catch the performance at the Prior Performing Arts Center, College of the Holy Cross, Thursday, Sept. 25, and Friday, Sept. 26, from 7:30–9:30 p.m.
- Two decades of music and magic: Celebrate 20 years of the Worcester Chamber Music Society with Serenade and Souvenir this Saturday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Mechanics Hall. Enjoy a joyous evening showcasing all core ensemble members, featuring Hofmann’s “Serenade for Flute and Strings,” Mozart’s “Piano Trio in G Major” and Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir de Florence”—a tribute to the city that has welcomed the group for two decades. Pre-concert talk at 7 p.m., plus free dessert at intermission to thank loyal patrons. Guests include Tracy Kraus on flute and Pascale Delache-Feldman on double bass.
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
