The baseball season is running out of innings at Polar Park, but the Worcester Red Sox are squeezing quite a bit into the final six of them—six days, that is.
The WooSox opened their last homestand of 2026 Tuesday night against the Durham Bulls, beginning a Fan Appreciation Week that carries through Sunday’s season finale. Along with the baseball, the week includes dogs, fireworks, wrestling, discounted ballpark food, a visit from former Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill and, eventually, the shirts off the players’ backs.
It is a characteristically busy sendoff to summer at Polar Park, where the WooSox say attendance this season is again running ahead of last year’s pace.
“We challenge ourselves to express our gratitude to fans who have come to Polar Park in extraordinary numbers yet again,” WooSox President Charles Steinberg said in the team’s announcement. “As we head into the last six days of summer, we have packed more people into Polar Park this year than last year at this time, and last year’s total beat the previous year’s. How do you thank people for allowing you to defy gravity?”
The answer, apparently, involves a little bit of everything.
Two WooSox players meet fans for autographs and photographs at Sherwood’s Diner each day through Saturday. Tuesday through Friday, Gate A at Fallon Health Square opens at 4 p.m., an hour before the remaining gates, allowing fans to watch pregame warmups.
The week also brings a variety of food and drink specials, including $2 12-ounce drafts of Coors Light and Masshole Light Lager through Thursday.
Tuesday’s opener doubled as the season’s final Tail-Waggin’ Tuesday, with dogs admitted at no additional cost, as well as Taco & Tequila Tuesday and AARP Ticket Tuesday. The WooSox took the field as Los Wepas de Worcester to mark the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, with Wepas merchandise discounted 50% in the team store.
On Wednesday, the club marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by recognizing Central Massachusetts first responders who traveled to Manhattan to help in the aftermath. First responders who show credentials at the ticket office can receive four free tickets through National Grid.
Wednesday is also WWE Night, with Framingham native and WWE wrestler Carmelo Hayes scheduled for a photo session at Sherwood’s Diner. The WooSox will also recognize Big Brothers Big Sisters and the club’s WooSox Mentors program.
Thursday brings “Deuces Wild,” with $2 hot dogs, water and select draft beers. Rich Hill, the Milton native whose major league career spanned 20 seasons and 14 teams, will sign autographs and take photos at Sherwood’s Diner during the third through sixth innings. The WooSox will play as the Worcester Kelley Squares, one of the alternate identities introduced this season.
The weekend begins Friday with Pride at the Park, presented with George’s Coney Island. The final fireworks show of the season will follow the game, set to a “Love Is All You Need” musical medley. Worcester will take the field as the Pawtucket Hot Wieners, an identity introduced during PawSox Heritage Day in July.
Saturday afternoon will be another dog day — the fifth and final Bark in the Park of the season. Fans with participating pups can join a pregame parade around the warning track.
The 4:05 p.m. game also includes the sixth annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. Pregame ceremonies will feature a human gold ribbon in the outfield, and play will stop during the game as fans, players, coaches and umpires hold placards bearing the names of people who have faced pediatric cancer.
Saturday also includes Loyal Royal Appreciation Day for season-ticket members, a Wachusett Regional Town Takeover recognizing Princeton, Rutland, Sterling, Paxton and Holden, a tie-dye station on Lucchino Lane and a postgame Sunset Catch on the Field.
Then comes Sunday — and the goodbye.
Before the 1:05 p.m. season finale, fans will receive posters featuring the 2026 team photo, and WooSox players and coaches will line the warning track from 11 to 11:45 a.m. for an autograph and photo session.
The day also includes Worcester Railers Day, with Railers coaches and players meeting fans during the game and a ceremonial “passing of the puck” before first pitch.
After the final out, WooSox players will return to the field for “The Shirts Off Their Backs,” presenting their game-worn jerseys to fans who randomly receive golden tickets during the game. Players will also autograph soft baseballs to toss into the stands.
Kids — with the team pointedly adding “of all ages” — can then run the bases, followed by one final Sunset Catch on the Field.
It is a lot to fit into six days. But with another season at Polar Park about to disappear into the record books, the WooSox appear intent on making the goodbye last as long as possible.
