WORCESTER—Worcester’s beloved arts festival, stART on the Street, takes over a big chunk of Park Ave. for a final time this Sunday, Sept. 15, marking its 20th anniversary and concluding a legacy that has helped define the city’s creative culture.
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Park Ave. transforms into a vibrant, open-air celebration of art, music, performance, and community.
As the largest arts festival in Central Massachusetts, stART on the Street has long been a showcase of local talent and innovation.
This year’s edition will feature more than 250 artists and crafters, along with live music, dance performances, food vendors, and interactive activities for attendees of all ages. The festival has become a staple in Worcester’s cultural calendar, attracting thousands of visitors annually and providing a platform for artisans and performers from across the region.
However, after two decades of serving as the heartbeat of Worcester’s arts scene, in August organizers shocked the community with an announcement that this year’s festival will be the last. Creative Hub, the nonprofit that took over the event in 2022, cited increasing challenges in recruiting volunteers and managing the festival’s growing scale as key reasons for its conclusion.
“The decision to end stART was incredibly difficult,” said Stacy Lord, co-founder of stART on the Street and Creative Hub. “But after 20 amazing years, we feel it’s time to move on and focus on new creative endeavors. The festival has meant so much to so many, and we are proud of the community we’ve built.”
Since its inception in 2002, stART on the Street has played an integral role in shaping Worcester’s creative landscape. Originally held on Main Street, the festival hopped to the other side of the block to Park Ave. in 2006, where it quickly grew into a major regional event, drawing artisans and visitors from across New England. Its success is often attributed to the dedication of volunteers and the enthusiastic support of the Worcester community.
Festival Director Tina Zlody reflected on the festival’s impact: “stART has always been about more than art. It’s about creating connections and celebrating creativity in all its forms. We’ve been fortunate to have the support of so many talented individuals over the years, and while it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, we’re excited for this final chapter.”
The 20th-anniversary event promises to be a memorable one, with special surprises planned, including limited edition merchandise and a retrospective of stART’s history. Attendees are encouraged to visit the festival’s tents and consider donating to support the event’s final run. For those who can’t attend on Sunday, stART at the Station, a winter craft show, will take place on December 8, offering one last opportunity to experience the magic of stART.
As the festival prepares to take its final bow, Worcester’s creative community is left with a rich legacy of artistic expression and collaboration that will continue to inspire future generations.
The final stART on the Street festival will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Park Avenue. Rain date: Sept. 22.
Who’s going?
Charlene Arsenault can be reached at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
