Charlene Arsenault
September has always been something of a confused month. The calendar says summer is packing its bags, the thermometer frequently begs to differ, and somewhere in Worcester (and beyond), someone thinks it’s a fantabulous idea to start talking about pumpkin beer and what they’re going to be for Halloween.
Fortunately, the local entertainment calendar isn’t suffering from any such identity crisis. September brings everything from underground music and art to stand-up comedy, Pride, blues and belly dancing, with Pink Floyd and Van Halen tributes, symphonic metal and one of America’s best-known humorists thrown in for good measure. In other words, if there’s nothing here that gets you out of the house this month, you may just really like your house. Or you’re waiting to emerge on Halloween.
The month gets moving Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Detour Music & Creative Festival takes over The Grove Village, 100 Grove St., from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Billing itself as a gathering for artists and creators who prefer making their own paths to following established ones, Detour mixes live music with fashion, vendors and other creative offerings. This year’s festival also supports CASA Project Worcester, which advocates for children in the foster care system.
Things get considerably busier the following week. Comedian and actor Dustin Ybarra lands at the BrickBox at the Jean McDonough Arts Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. Ybarra’s face may be familiar even if his name isn’t: His TV credits include “The Goldbergs,” “Home Economics,” “Californication,” “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” and “Gotham,” while his film work includes “We Bought a Zoo,” “21 & Over” and “Easter Sunday.” Tickets are $34, or $49 for table seating.
Also on Sept. 10, CASA Project Worcester takes over Polar Park at 6 p.m. for its 8th annual Champions for Children fundraiser. The Canal District event combines local food and live entertainment with a mobile auction and awards ceremony, all while raising money to train CASA volunteers who advocate for local children in foster care.
If stand-up isn’t your thing, Sept. 10 also brings the opening reception for “Materia,” featuring work by Victor Pacheco and James Maurette at Worcester Center for Crafts’ Krikorian Gallery. Pacheco’s work explores identity from multiple angles, including culture, community and environment, while inviting viewers into larger conversations surrounding Latino and African American communities.
On Friday, Sept. 11, Electric Haze turns the clock back with the Freedom Freestyle Concert, featuring Nelson Rego, Jessee B, Aby Cruz, Ayna, Betsya and Joe Mazor.
And Saturday, Sept. 12, offers a particularly good argument for leaving the couch. First of all, Pride Worcester energizes the Worcester Common from 2-7 p.m., bringing more than 200 artisan makers, businesses and community organizations downtown alongside live performances, speakers, food, a youth and family zone, and health and community resources. Organizers describe the Pride Worcester Festival as both “a protest AND a celebration,” and the free annual festival has grown into one of the region’s largest LGBTQ+ gatherings. Later that night, due to popular demand, Femme’s throwing another kick-arse block party (yup, that means outside) featuring games, raffles, tastings, vendors, DJ Lavender and a performance by Sister Funk.
Also that night, you might as well jump..,go ahead and jump. Jump—the Van Halen tribute band, that is—hammers on (and off) at Off The Rails from 8-10 p.m., bringing the David Lee Roth-era swagger, Eddie Van Halen guitar pyrotechnics and enough classic-rock nostalgia to make you briefly consider digging your old denim jacket with the patches out of storage.
Sunday, Sept. 13, chill things out—somewhat—with veteran Worcester harmonica player Chet Williamson bringing an all-original program to WCUW’s FrontRoom at 5 p.m. Williamson’s musical travels began in Worcester’s Great Brook Valley and have taken him around the world during a career spanning more than four decades. Along the way, he has shared stages with the likes of Sleepy LaBeef, Joan Osborne and Duke Levine. For the FrontRoom show, Williamson will be joined by Jerry Sabatini, Mitch Seidman, Pamela Hines, Bill McGillivray and Jerry Wilfong.
Prefer your Sunday considerably louder? Icon For Hire brings its Scripted Anniversary Tour to The Palladium that night with Elijah and Lauren Babic. Or go in precisely the opposite direction and spend part of the day poking around one of Worcester’s architectural gems: The Hanover Theatre offers a two-hour guided tour Sept. 13 exploring the history and design of the Thomas Lamb-designed theater. Tickets are $10 for nonmembers and free for subscribers, current conservatory families, members and their guests.
By Friday, Sept. 18, it’s time to head to the dark side…of the moon. Brit Floyd brings “The Moon, The Wall and Beyond” World Tour 2026 to The Hanover Theatre at 7:30 p.m., celebrating two little records you may have heard of: “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall.” Brit Floyd has performed more than 1,500 shows in more than 40 countries, and this production comes armed with the expected Floydian arsenal of lasers, projections, inflatables, theatrical staging (maybe that blow up pig from the ‘90s?) and immersive sound.
The blues come roaring back Saturday, Sept. 19, when Pat Halpin & the 351s pull into WCUW’s FrontRoom. Harmonica player Halpin has been part of the New England blues scene since the early 1990s, and the 351s — named for Ford’s legendary 351 Cleveland engine — mix Chicago blues with rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, swing, Tex-Mex and country. Showtime is 5 p.m.
You could then head downtown, where Worcester gets its own taste of Southeast Asian night-market culture. The Worcester Night Market runs from 4 to 9:30 p.m. around City Hall and the Common, transforming the area with hundreds of lanterns, food and artisan vendors, live entertainment and interactive activities. The free event is presented by Ricema, Sugi Matcha and Mint Kitchen and Bar.
The calendar gets heavier — literally — on Friday, Sept. 25, when Kamelot headlines The Palladium. The Florida-born band has spent decades blending melodic and progressive metal with symphonic grandeur, making this the month’s destination for anyone whose preferred night out involves soaring vocals, thunderous riffs and perhaps significantly more leather than your average Worcester gathering.
The next night, Saturday, Sept. 26, the Racky Thomas Band brings the blues back to WCUW’s FrontRoom for a 7 p.m. show co-sponsored by the Boston Blues Society. The Boston band has been at it since 1995, cooking up a musical gumbo of Chicago blues, gospel, country blues and boogie with the kind of high-energy live show that has kept Thomas and company carrying the blues torch around New England for nearly three decades. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; admission is $20.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, WCUW’s FrontRoom trades the blues for belly dance when Namid and Baseema present “Raqs at the Radio Station” at 5 p.m. The showcase brings together performers from around New England working in Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic and Turkish-influenced dance styles, with Heather Powers, Fady, Tiffany Hawko, Origins, PSYbel and Divergence Dance Collective among the scheduled performers. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; admission is $15.
Finally, September goes out laughing — or at least thinking about why it’s laughing. Best-selling humorist and social satirist David Sedaris returns to The Hanover Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, following publication of his latest collection, “The Land and Its People.” Sedaris will read new, unpublished stories and commentary, with book signings scheduled before and after the show.
And then it’s October.
Which, around here, means someone had better start finding a costume. And looking forward to the Pet Rock Festival, which helps a whole lot of animals with its event on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Lancaster Fairgrounds.