The summer is just heating up, and it’s about to get a lot hotter. Don’t worry about being stuck in the house; with these cool events, you can soak up the summer sun! Grab your sunscreen and hit the streets of Worcester!

JUNE – School’s Out For Summer

2015 Food Truck Tour
The fourth annual Worcester Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival is once again coming to the Woo! Spend an afternoon sampling everything from Vietnamese sandwiches to lobster rolls to duck tacos. Samuel Adams is a title sponsor and will be selling a variety of its popular and specialty beers. If you purchase the VIP ticket, you receive early access to the festival (no lines), unlimited non-alcoholic Polar beverages and a free dessert.
Saturday, June 20, at Elm Park, Worcester. VIP hour is 11a.m.-noon; general admission is noon-5 p.m. VIP tickets are $20; general admission is $5.For more information or to purchase tickets, visit foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com.

Taste of Shrewsbury Street
With more than 30 restaurants and pubs participating, the 15th annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street is a great way to sample the cuisines Shrewsbury Street offers. Grab a button and walk Worcester’s Restaurant Row while enjoying live entertainment!
6 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, on Shrewsbury Street, Worcester. $25 for a button. For more information, visit Tasteshrewsburystreet.com.

Paulie’s NOLA Jazz & Blues Festival
It’s time to jazz up the city. Go to Paulie’s New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival in Worcester’s Canal District and spend three days listening to tunes and munching on some great local food and drinks. Bring your own chairs and blankets.
7 p.m.-midnight Friday, June 26; noon-midnight, Saturday, June 27; and noon-9:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Prices vary. Tickets at the door are additional $5. 152 Green St., Worcester. Visit baevents.com/pauliesnolabluesandjazzfestival/index.html for more information.

Asian Festival
The Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts is hosting the annual Asian Festival to share Asian heritage with the city of Worcester. There will be cultural performances, food and music.
Noon-7 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at the Italian American Cultural Center at 28 Mulberry St., Worcester. Visit seacma.org/asian-festival.html for more information.

JULY – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Cars of Summer Super Show
Interested in cars or just want a new adventure? Head down to Green Hill Park on Fourth of July weekend for the Cars of Summer Super Show, with more than 1,000 classic and custom vehicles, not to mention vendors, food, live music, canoe rides, bounce houses, a kids’ zone and much more! Marissa Brown, one of the organizers, said, “This year, we are doing something different; we are partnering up with some area pet shelters this year to do on-site adoptions. We have partnered up with the Massachusetts Audubon Society for free canoe and paddleboat rides; we will have on display the new 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat; we have added a racing/NASCAR area this year with racing vehicles on display; and we will have four live bands playing on Friday and Saturday. Saturday night we will have a block party with a DJ.”
July 3-5; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday , 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at Green Hill Park on Green Hill Parkway, Worcester. Three-day pass is $25; one-day pass is $10 at the gate. Show car and camping pass is $80. Register at carsofsummer.com.

Big Dipper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival
In addition to all-you-can-eat ice cream, there will be Moonwalks and other games, face-painting, a food tent, clowns, raffles and all-day entertainment. Debbie Huegal, the director of marketing and development at Children’s Friend, said, “The Big Dipper not only creates a great opportunity for family fun, but the money it raises supports the critical services that Children’s Friend provides to children and families throughout Central Massachusetts.”
From 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at Worcester’s Elm Park on the Russell Street side. Rain or shine. $5 for ages 10 and older. $2 for ages 4-9. Free for ages 3 and younger. All money goes to Children’s Friend.

Shrewsbury Street Walk and Rock
Enjoy a variety of live music and great food on Shrewsbury Street on selected Thursday evenings in July. With 10 venues, this free event allows you to connect with local music and local cuisine for one great evening. Walk Shrewsbury Street and catch local bands playing live at area restaurants.
7 p.m. select Thursdays in July on Shrewsbury Street. Free. Shrewsburystreet.org/walkrock.htm.

Hot Night in the City
If you like it hot, then head down to Worcester Center for Crafts for an outdoor event with fresh food, fiery crafts, live music from the Jubilee Gardens and cool art. Executive Director Honee Hess said, “Hot Night gives us the opportunity to literally turn ourselves inside out in order to tell the community thank you for being partners with us.”
6-9 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester. Free. For more information, visit worcestercraftcenter.org.

AUGUST – Summer In The City

Slide the City
Need to cool off from the hot summer sun? Well, Slide the City is coming to Worcester! Grab your bathing suit and head down to a (soon to be determined ) street in Worcester for a 1,000-foot slip and slide, as well as music, dancing, food and drinks.
Saturday, Aug,1. Time and street TBD. Prices vary. For more information, visit slidethecity.com/events/worcester .

Country MusicFest
Head to Wachusett Mountain for some good country fun. Listen to great local and national country performers while enjoying good food, beer and vendors. Don’t forget your lawn chair!
Saturday, Aug.15, at Wachusett Mountain. Find more information at wachusett.com.

Latin American Festival
Come enjoy the 2015 Latin American Festival. There will be nonstop music and dancing, information, vendors, children’s tent, crafts tent, beer/wine garden and a ton of Latin food.
Noon-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug.15, at the Worcester Common. Free. For more information, visit worcesterlatinfestival.com.

Farm Fresh Festival
It’s time to celebrate Massachusetts’ agricultural community! Enjoy a huge farmer’s market, crafts, wine sampling, cooking demonstrations and petting zoo, all while listening to some bluegrass.
Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 29-30, at Wachusett Mountain. Check out wachusett.com for more details.

Worcester Caribbean Carnival
The Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association will host its annual Caribbean Carnival Day this August. There will be Caribbean food, performances, music and more!
Sunday, Aug. 30, at noon at Institute Park. Parade begins at 1:30 p.m. at 305 Chandler St. Visit worcestercarib.com for more information.

All Summer Long – Fun In The Sun

Wild Music – Sounds and Songs of Life
A traveling exhibition, Wild Music is coming to the EcoTarium. Built with ecologically green materials, this 4,000-square-foot exhibition explores the biological origins of music through an interactive sound experience.
May 30-Sept.6 at the EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Visit wildmusic.org or ecotarium.org for more information.

Art in the Park
Feeling artsy? Stop by Art in the Park, an exhibition in of sculptures by New England artists. It features tours with the artist, music and activities. There are 23 pieces by 19 artists that were selected by the jurors – professor and sculptor Amy Podmore, curator Susan Cross and environmental sculptor Steven Siegel.
Exhibit opens June 14 with a reception from 3-7 p.m. and is open through Oct. 11 at Elm Park in Worcester. For more information, visit artintheparkworcester.org/AIPW_home.html. 

Out to Lunch Summer Concert Series and Farmer’s Market
With a concert series, famer’s market and food vendors all in one, the Out to Lunch Series is the perfect way to get some sun on a summer afternoon. Come and listen to some great tunes!
Every Thursday on the Worcester Commons from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June 18-Aug.20. Visit facebook.com/pages/Worcester-Common-Oval/370921459652272 for more information.

Worcester Newton Square Summer Concert Series
Since 2003, the Newton Square Summer Concerts have been rocking the square. Brittany Legasey, marketer for the series, said, “We’ve featured almost every type of music from rock to blues to swing jazz.” Blue Jeans Pizza, the long-time sponsor, sells pizza and drinks. In August, 5K races hosted by Central Mass Striders take place at the same time as the concerts, starting and ending at Newton Square after touring around Newton Hill.
Tuesday nights at 6:30 at Newton Square. Tentative dates are June 30- Aug.11.  Free. For more information, visit friendsofnewtonhill.org.

Park Spirit Elm Park Concert Series
Head down to Elm Park to hear some good tunes for the annual Park Spirit Elm Park Concert Series! Brittany Legasey, of Park Spirit, said, “Last year was a landmark year for us with the Elm Park Concert Series, as we averaged about 2,000 people a night, so in total, we entertained more than 10,000 by late August.”
6:30 p.m. Thursdays from July 9-Aug. 12 in Elm Park. Free. For more information, visit parkspirit.org.

Third Thursdays on the Common
A collaboration between Worcester Film Works and Las Mariposas Productions, Third Thursdays on the Common include a movie on the common the third Thursday of each summer month, a food truck park, music and a beer and wine garden.
Begins at 6 p.m. for food and music; movie begins at sundown on the Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St., Worcester. Free. Visit worcesterfilmworks.org.

Indian Ranch Summer Concert Series
Back for its 68^th concert season, Indian Ranch will host a slew of exciting concerts and events this summer. This year, the series will feature Huey Lewis and the News, Dwight Yoakam, Montgomery Gentry, Three Dog Night and many more acts.
Days, times and ticket prices vary throughout June, July and August. 200 Gore Road, Webster. Visit indianranch.com.

By Tricia Wise