10 am – 7 pm
Location
Museum-wideTransport yourself to a world of arms and armor at the Worcester Art Museum during a summertime celebration for all ages, with free admission and extended hours! Discover more than 1,000 pieces of arms and armor from across time and around the globe in the Museum’s Arms and Armor Galleries. Meet reenactors from across time, witness dramatic swordplay demonstrations, get hands-on with life-like replicas, and enjoy rousing performances by puppeteers, African drummers, cosplayers, and roaming musicians.
In the evening, from 4 to 7 pm, join the world-renowned Tree House Brewing Company for a pop-up beer garden in the Museum’s courtyard, with live music and summer fun for all ages.
Events
11:15 am and 11:45 am
Sword Dancing, with the Major Highland Dancers
Renaissance Court (Ground Level)
Noon and 2 pm
Kamishibai Japanese Puppet Show, with Shunsuke Yamaguchi
Conference Room (Higgins Education Wing, Level 3)
1 pm
Cosplay Presentation and Q&A, with Andrew Liptak, author of Cosplay: A History: The Builders, Fans, and Makers Who Bring Your Favorite Stories to Life
Conference Room (Higgins Education Wing, Level 3)
1:30 pm and 2:30 pm
African Drum Performance, with African Community Education (ACE)
Renaissance Court (Ground Level)
2 pm
Armoring Up Demonstration with curator Jeffery Forgeng and intern Maggie Johnson
Arms and Armor Galleries (Level 2)
Ongoing activities
10 am–6 pm
Arms and Armor Up Close
Curator, conservator, and docent insights in the galleries
11 am–1 pm
Watch Arms and Armor Conservation in Action, with conservator Bill MacMillan
Jeppson Idea Lab (Level 4)
11 am–3 pm
Arms and Armor Reenactors
- Medieval Knight, with Brian Chabot
- Roman Soldiers, with Roman Legion
- Revolutionary War Soldiers, with Ye Olde Lebanon Town Militia
- Sword Demonstrations, with Forte Sword Group (Live Swordplay at 11:30 am and 3:15 pm)
- Middle Eastern Combat Arts, with Bayt al-Asad
Stoddard Garden Courtyard (Level 2)
Build LEGO® Castle Defenses, with New England LEGO® Users Group
Salisbury Hall (Level 2)
Star Wars Droids and Characters, with 501st New England Garrison and New England Droid Builders
Lancaster Lobby (Level 2)
Artmaking
- Create a Pool Noodle Horse
Higgins Education Wing, Studio 2416 - LEGO® tapestry with New England LEGO® Users Group
Higgins Education Wing, Studio 2416 - Make an Origami Helmet
Higgins Education Wing, Studio 2417
4–7 pm
Pop-up Beer Garden, with Tree House Brewing Company
Ice Cream Food Truck, with Breez Freez
Live Music, with Friends of Coop
Meet WooSox Mascots
Stoddard Garden Courtyard (Level 2)
Hands-on Bladesmith Display, with FerroMorphics
Star Wars Droids, with New England Droid Builders
Lancaster Lobby (Level 2)
Arms and Armor Photobooth
Family Nook (Higgins Education Wing, Level 2)
Build LEGO® Castle Defenses, with New England LEGO® Users Group
Salisbury Hall (Level 2)
Food and shopping
10 am–7 pm
Members save 10%
Food and drink
Lancaster Room (Level 2)
Shop
Salisbury Lobby (Ground Level)
Programming subject to change.
In case of rain, outdoor activities will move indoors.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Worcester Arts Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
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