From festivals and parades, to meetings and conventions, to sporting events, the City of Worcester is proud to support and host a variety of special events that contribute to the spirit and vitality of our community. Worcester offers many unique public and private venues to accommodate all kinds of events and support staff to help guide organizers through the municipal permit process and event coordination.

There is now a Single Application for all Special Events, which is received and processed by the Cultural Development Division (CDD). The only exception is an Expressive Event, which requires its own application (see below). The CDD hosted a virtual Special Event Information Session on April 6, 2025, to share updates with the community, and you can View the Presentation Slides Online.

Depending on the nature of the event, organizers may need to attend a Parks Commission and/or Special Event Committee meeting, as assigned.

What is a Special Event?

Events on municipal property (including City Parks) and/or events that require municipal services or authorization need to go through the Special Event application process in order to get the necessary approvals.

Examples include:

• Festivals, parades, runs/walks, farmers' markets, and other larger planned group activities;
• Birthday parties, cookouts, or small receptions in parks; and;
• Events involving street closures, service of alcohol, on‐site cooking, food and merchandise sales, large temporary structures and/or a variety of other programmatic elements.

An event requiring an application will likely involve the coordination of multiple municipal departments to obtain the necessary permits and inspections. Events will be reviewed by the Special Event Committee through the Special Event Permit process.

Special Event inquiries and applications may be submitted to SpecialEvents@worcesterma.gov. Please note that smaller events in public parks that require limited or no services from other municipal departments may be coordinated directly by the Department of Parks, Recreation & Cemetery after the application is received.

For all Special Events, please complete and submit the Special Event Application at least 90 days prior to the requested date of the event.
 

Expressive Events

An Expressive Event is a spontaneously planned event in response to a recent occurrence, including but not limited to rallies, protests, or vigils addressing current political, religious, or social issues, when the organizer(s) could not have reasonably anticipated their need for such event in advance of the permitting timeline established by the municipality's Special Events regulations. The municipality provides an expedited permitting process to facilitate this type of event given their time-sensitive nature.

Expressive Event - Permit Application

Community Day Events at Polar Park

The City of Worcester and Worcester Red Sox are committed to see Polar Park used as a hub for community-orientated events. Polar Park is available 10 days per year for community events such as municipality-sponsored high school baseball and other sports tournaments, Little League parades, district or Commonwealth championships, festivals, or meetings.

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