Name: Free Day: A World of Arms and Armor, ft. Tree House Brewing Company
Start: 2026-08-16T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-08-16T19:00:00-04:00
Location: Worcester Art Museum

Sunday, August 16, 2026
10 am – 7 pm

Beer garden 4–7 pm

Location

Museum-wide

Transport 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.

Events
Ongoing activities
Food and shopping

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.

Visitors enjoying a summer afternoon of drinks and live music in the Stoddard Garden Courtyard

Events

11 am and 1 pm

Arms and Armor Storytime

Family Nook (Higgins Education Wing)

Noon and 2 pm

Kamishibai Japanese Puppet Show, with Shunsuke Yamaguchi

Conference Room

1 pm

Tour of the Galleries

Lancaster Lobby

1:30 pm and 2:30 pm

African Drum Performance, with African Community Education (ACE)

Renaissance Court

4:30 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

Time to be announced

Living Sculpture, with A Silent Soapbox

Museum-wide

1–3 pm and 4–6 pm

Roaming Lute Performances, with Jordan Cavalier

Museum-wide

Young visitors try on different types of helmet in the Arms and Armor Galleries

Shunsuke Yamaguchi, 'The Kamishibai Man', performs street theater to a family audience in Renaissance Court

A group of visitors stand around a display case containing different types of sword

A young boy 'high-fives' a 'Living Sculpture'

Medieval reenactors explore the Arms and Armor Galleries

Ongoing activities

10 am–7 pm

Arms and Armor Up Close

Curator, conservator, and docent insights in the galleries

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
Live Sword Demonstrations, with Forte Sword Group
Middle Eastern Combat Arts, with Bayt al-Asad

Build LEGO^® Castles, with New England LEGO^® Users Group

Salisbury Hall

Star Wars Droids and Characters, with 501st New England Garrison and New England Droid Builders

Lancaster Lobby

Artmaking

Create a Pool Noodle Horse
Higgins Education Wing, Studio 2416
Make an Origami Helmet
Higgins Education Wing, Studio 2417

A tour group explores the Arms and Armor Galleries

A Middle Eastern combat arts demonstration

A group of Mandalorians from the 501st New England Garrison

Reproduction droids made by New England Droid Builders

Visitors sitting at desks making art in a studio

4–7 pm

Pop-up Beer Garden, with Tree House Brewing Company

Stoddard Garden Courtyard

Ice Cream Food Truck, with Breez Freez

Live Music, with Friends of Coop

Meet WooSox Mascots

Stoddard Garden Courtyard

Hands-on Bladesmith Display, with FerroMorphics

Lancaster Lobby

Build LEGO^® Castles, with New England LEGO^® Users Group

Salisbury Hall

Artmaking

Make an Origami Helmet
Higgins Education Wing

Worcester mascots: Clara, Roberto, Smiley, and Woofster

Food and shopping

10 am–7 pm

Members save 10%

Food and drink

Lancaster Room

Shop

Salisbury Lobby

Programming subject to change.

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.