Ring in the New Year at the Worcester Common

Live music, pyrotechnics, ice skating, WOOville Winter Wonderland

Worcester – The City of Worcester will host a free New Year’s Eve Celebration from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31 on Worcester Common.

Live entertainment will be provided by Cirque de Light (fire performers), Free Range Band (party songs/popular hits) and Worcester Music Academy. A pyrotechnics display will take place at 7:30 p.m. on the Church Street side of the Common. The event will also feature face painting and a heated tent.

Free ice skating will be available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Worcester Common Oval. Admission for skating from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. is $10, and free for children six and younger. Bring your own skates and receive $5 off the admission price. A refundable $25 cash or credit card deposit is required for skate rentals.

Refreshments will be available for purchase from The Dogfather and Jackson Effie Coffee Cabin. A beer garden will be provided by Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company. The WOOville Winter Wonderland, a series of wooden sheds that host pop-up shops on the Common, will feature craft vendor Jackson’s Creative Cake & Crafts.

“This family-friendly event will be a great way for Worcester to celebrate the new year and look forward to more energy and excitement downtown in 2018,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. “As part of our mission to make the Worcester Common a community gathering space for all, we exceeded our goal of hosting 100 events there this year. New Year’s Eve will serve as a celebration for everyone in the community who helped us achieve that goal.”

The New Year’s Eve Celebration is made possible in part by the Worcester Business Development Corporation and Reliant Medical Group.

Affordable parking options within walking distance of the Worcester Common include the underground Worcester Common Garage at 2 Eaton Place, Mercantile Center Parking Garage, Federal Plaza Parking Garage and the Pearl-Elm Parking Garage.

Worcester Common Oval hours during school vacation week:

Tues./Wed., Dec. 26-27: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Thurs./Fri., Dec. 28-29: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 30: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 31: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Free skating 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

Mon., Jan. 1: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Upcoming Events at the Oval:

Fri., Jan. 5: Meet the USA Luge Team with free ice skating – 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., presented by Saint Gobain

Sat., Jan. 13: Curling demonstration by the Blackstone Valley Curling Club, Petersham Curling Club and Marlborough Curling Club – 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: open for ice skating)

Fri., Jan. 19: Broomball matches, including the Worcester Fire Department vs. the Worcester Police Department and City Hall vs. the press – 4 p.m.