Sunday, August 16, 2026
10 am–7 pm
Beer garden 4–7 pm
Museum-wide

(Image: Worcester Art Museum)

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
• enjoy rousing performances by puppeteers
• African drummers
• cosplayers
• 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.

Event Schedule

11 am and 1 pm: Arms and Armor Storytime
Family Nook (Higgins Education Wing, Level 2)

Noon and 2 pm: Kamishibai Japanese Puppet Show, with Shunsuke Yamaguchi
Conference Room (Higgins Education Wing, Level 3)

1 pm: Tour of the Galleries
Lancaster Lobby (Level 2)

1:30 pm and 2:30 pm: African Drum Performance, with African Community Education (ACE)
Renaissance Court (Ground Level)

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 (Higgins Education Wing, Level 3)

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

Ongoing activities

10 am–7 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 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
• Live Sword Demonstrations, with Forte Sword Group
• Middle Eastern Combat Arts, with Bayt al-Asad
• Build a LEGO® Castle, with New England LEGO® Users Group
• Star Wars Droids and Characters, with 501st New England Garrison and New England Droid Builder

All on Level 2

Artmaking

Create a Pool Noodle Horse

Make an Origami Helmet

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 (Level 2)

• Ice Cream Food Truck, with Breez Freez
• Live Music, with Friends of Coop
• Meet WooSox Mascots
• Hands-on Bladesmith Display, with FerroMorphics
• Build a LEGO® Castle, with New England LEGO® Users Group
• Food & Shopping
• Artmaking: Make an Origami Helmet
• Worcester Mascots: Clara, Roberto, Smiley and Woofster

WAM
55 Salisbury St
Worcester MA

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