Worcester, MASS-- The Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers’ Market is one of the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District’s most attended event. It’s returning for another summer to downtown Worcester with an expanded number of 10 festivals, an extra hour to enjoy the fun and a change in day, now happening each Wednesday through August 20. 

“The working world has changed a lot since this event first started 15 years ago,” Downtown Worcester BID executive director Kately O’Brien said. “We figured a lot more people work in the office in the middle of the week, so we really want to get as many people as we can to come downtown, have the experience and provide fresh food and vegetables.”

Organizers are planning to host 20 to 40 vendors each event, with a musical act performing each session at noon.

“Some amazing and diverse musical acts from all across the world,” O’Brien said. “We worked with the Mass Farmers Association and we are going to have a lot of diverse vendors there. Artisan and farmers’ market vendors from all across the state.”

Also happening this summer, Movies on the Common returned to downtown Worcester Thursday. This year, families can expect a big upgrade.

“We have a pretty professional fancy screen. So,  we will be able to start at seven and the sun going down will not affect the movie and the quality is going to be increased,” O’Brien said. 

Each showing starts with activities and entertainment at 6pm. Three more free outdoor movie events are slated for Thursday nights.

“We’re working with the Hanover Theatre. They have Christmas in July, so we are teaming up with them and showing the movie ‘Spirited’. We have ‘Inside Out 2’, which was a major blockbuster last year and then we are ending it with ‘Wicked’, which was highly requested,” she said. 

The Downtown Worcester BID said the goal of this summer lineup is to bring individuals and families to the heart of the city to enjoy all it has to offer.

“We want you to have that experience. We want you to walk around and see the new restaurants and stores and really experience how much downtown has changed,” O’Brien said. 

June 18 marks the first Out to Lunch Festival of the season and the next Movies on the Common is set for July 10.