Celebrate the holidays in the Heart of the Commonwealth
The wreaths and decorations adorning City Hall and the Worcester Common mean the holiday season has arrived and along with it seasonal events, holiday markets, festive shows and experiences, and more throughout the city of Worcester.
As you take part in our local festivities and your own holiday traditions, I encourage you to shop small, stay local, and support your own community’s economy.
Worcester is home to several local independent retailers, restaurants, artisans, makers, and more offering unique gifts for your loved ones (or yourself!). By shopping local, you not only invest in that particular business, but an ecosystem of businesses that rely on each other as vendors and providers in the supply chain.
When you choose to shop locally rather than buying gifts online, you also get a personal experience engaging with local business owners and employees and have the advantage of seeing items in person before you buy them.
To help ease the burden of your holiday budget, the municipality is offering free parking at all on-street metered spots throughout the city, as well as the municipal surface lots on Green, Water, and Millbury Streets, every Saturday from Nov. 30 to Dec. 28, 2024. You can also check out our full list of parking specials during the holiday season on the municipal website.
Take advantage during the annual Festival of Lights celebration on Dec. 6 and enjoy complimentary entertainment and wholesome fun for friend groups, families, and everyone in between.
The event will include the lighting of the tree on the Worcester Common as well as several interactive light displays throughout the park, an illuminated playscape with a 90-foot alpine slide, food vendors, performances from local choirs and dance troupes, ice-skating, and more.
The festival kicks off a whole series of events that weekend including The Mercantile Holiday Market, Canal District Holiday Stroll, and Kelley Square Tree Lighting on Dec. 7 and stART at the Station on Dec. 8.
Many of the events will give visitors the opportunity to support local businesses.
Here are a few other ways you can support small businesses this holiday season:
Take part in Small Business Saturday
I know many of you will be looking to take advantage of Black Friday deals, but don’t forget to shop small. This Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30, there are several events around Worcester featuring local vendors to keep your eye out for while you take advantage of the free parking.
Share your experiences
Have a good experience? Share it on social media and/or leave a positive review on sites like Yelp and Google. Seeing your experience will encourage your friends and other internet users to patronize the small business, increasing its chances for longevity.
Commit to shopping small and staying local
Pledge to buy at least half of your shopping list from small businesses; grab brunch, lunch, or dinner before or after you shop; and add a show, museum or gallery visit to your day! Worcester has vendors offering everything from pottery to clothing to prints to jewelry. You could even give your gifts a “made in Worcester” theme.
I look forward to seeing you all out and about in Worcester this holiday season enjoying everything our great city has to offer, and I wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
