Edward Street’s 15th Annual Day of Play Family Festival gave Worcester a day to build big, get creative, follow the music, and enjoy being together.
The band had a stage. One little boy had an idea.
With the music playing, he asked his mother if he could dance. She said yes, and he ran straight onto the Main Stage.
His mother followed to explain that he could dance right in front instead. A small change of location was all it took. He danced happily on his own until the band finished the song.
We had invited Worcester to come out and play. Clearly, the invitation was accepted.
On Saturday, September 19, families gathered at Elm Park in Worcester for a free festival with play areas dedicated to construction, creative arts, STEM, reading, active play, health and wellness, and mindfulness. Children had plenty to explore and the freedom to decide what to try next. Sometimes that meant picking up a hammer. Sometimes it meant following the music.
Big Boxes. Busy Hands. And Bubbles Everywhere
In the construction area, children carried, stacked, and rearranged big, brightly colored boxes, some with faces of their own. At a woodworking table, the hammers were real, and so was the concentration. A child stood with a hammer in hand, watching a volunteer demonstrate how to use it and followed him exactly as instructed, finding immense joy in doing it correctly.
Children were busy at the craft tables under the trees, too. They bent over their creations, surrounded by colorful materials. Out on the grass, bubbles drifted past children and adults. It was hard to watch one float by without wanting to reach for it.
With construction, art, science, movement, stories, and quieter exploration to choose from, families could choose their own pace. A burst of energy could be followed by something that invited them to slow down and look closely.
The grown-ups had plenty of reasons to join in. There were boxes to help with, bubbles to make, and activities to get absorbed in together. A family day out can involve a lot of organizing and keeping everyone moving. Here was a chance to stop for a while and play.
“I came with my family, and I’m not sure who had more fun, we kept finding something else we wanted to try.” Said a parent as he stopped to catch his breath.
Giving families a day like this takes support from across the community. Some of that support began months before the first family arrived at Elm Park.
One Hundred Students. One Dollar Each.
Students at Worcester Technical High School (WTHS) set a goal of raising $100 for Day of Play. Their plan was to ask 100 fellow students to contribute $1 each. By the end of the school year, they had reached their target.
Their effort was also a thank-you. Shelese Johnson, the students’ department head and an Edward Street board member, shared that they wanted to show their appreciation for Edward Street’s support of the WTHS Early Childhood Department.
Many WTHS students also volunteer at Day of Play each year, and former student volunteers have expressed interest in returning. We are grateful for the many ways these students give back to a community that has supported their learning.
The People Behind All That Play
From a student’s dollar to a volunteer’s Saturday, Day of Play depends on people choosing to be part of it.
Across Elm Park, volunteers and activity partners welcomed families, explained activities, and helped children try something new. Performers gave families music to move to and another reason to gather.
“The volunteers made it so easy for the kids to get involved,” says a parent enjoying the crafts section with her 4-year-old daughter. “There was a lot of enthusiasm on both sides of those activity tables.”
To everyone who gave their Saturday, shared their skills, or supported the festival, thank you. You helped give families a day with room for discovery, silliness, and being together.
We are grateful to every one of this year’s sponsors:
Presenting Sponsors: City of Worcester Cultural Festival Grant Program; Worcester Family Partnership and EEC.
Play Area Sponsors: The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation (Creative Arts); TJX (Health & Wellness); Spectrum (Construction).
Activity Sponsors: Guild of St. Agnes; Fidelity Bank; Fontaine Brothers Community Foundation; Wegmans; Webster Five.
Play Ambassadors: Country Bank; Rainbow Child Development Center; YMCA of Central Massachusetts; Seven Hills Foundation; Boys & Girls Club of Worcester; United Way of Central Massachusetts.
Play Friends: First Friends; Worcester Comprehensive Education and Care; UniBank; Herlihy Insurance Group; Mindful Matters; Bob’s Discount Furniture; Middlesex Savings Bank; Cornerstone Bank; Market 32 and Price Chopper; YWCA of Central MA; Pernet Family Health Service/Webster Square Day Care Center; Smileland Pediatric Dentistry and Braces; Girls Inc. of Worcester; Lakeshore Learning.
We Hope You’ll Come Back For More
A good day out can make going home a tough sell.
“But I don’t wanna go yet!”
“Can we come back tomorrow?”
A year can feel like a long wait when you’ve had this much fun. Thank you to every family who brought that spirit to Elm Park. We’ll share plans for 2027 in the coming months, and we hope you’ll join us, whether you are continuing a family tradition or starting one.
Give yourselves time to wander. And if the music catches your attention, the spot in front of the stage comes highly recommended.
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