"Wake Up to Worcester-offers the Public a Free Ride to Free Events"

Worcester, MA (PRWEB) May 5, 2005 -- The Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today that they have received a $50,000.00 grant from The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to promote Wake Up to Worcester week. This initiative is a partnership with the City of Worcester, Worcester Cultural Coalition and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce to spotlight Worcesters rich and diverse arts and cultural community. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to draw attention to the vibrant arts, culture and history that is so often overlooked right in our own backyard, stated Jeannie Hebert, Senior Tourism and Marketing Director for the CVB.

Wake Up to Worcester Week is May 8th through May 15th and has a wide variety of scheduled events all week long ranging from Preservation Worcesters Walking Tours to Worcester Trivia Night at the Worcester Historical Museum. Topping off this week long celebration is Wake Up to Worcester Day on Saturday, May 14th which offers the public a full day of free events as well as continuous free transportation, 10AM to 4PM from historic Union Station to the venues. Family friendly events sponsored by Commerce Bank and the CVB will take place at Union Station from 10 AM to 1PM and features The Worcester Tornadoes, Molly Bish Life Guard ID program, Bounce Youth Fitness gymnastics agility course, Laser Zone laser tag court, NEADS Dogs puppy kissing booth, music by Appletree Arts childrens performers, acoustic guitarists, Tom and Miguel and the Clark University Jazz Combo, artists displays, and displays of restaurants, properties and attractions throughout Central Massachusetts. The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is providing a display of Worcesters Future development, featuring artists renderings of the proposed new construction that will change the face of downtown.

Erin Williams, Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester notes, Wake Up to Worcester Week is an excellent model of collaboration between the cultural coalition, private businesses, the City of Worcester and Worcester Artists. Worcester is unique in that partnerships are so gracefully implemented. Our cultural venues are top notch and deserve to be spotlighted.

Saturday, the Worcester Cultural Coalition has organized a day long Detour throughout the city celebrating the arts. Some of the venues providing free events on Saturdays shuttle route include the FDR Museum, ARTSWorcester-Walking Tours coordinated by Preservation Worcester, ARTSWorcester Jazz Ensemble Performance, biennial show and artist created Banner Project, Worcester Art Museum-Tour and Concert by Master Singers to Go, Worcester Historical Museum-Childrens Circus Day, The Sprinkler Factory-Worcester Artist Group displays and demos, Glassworks Studio-Glass blowing demo, SAORI Gallery-weaving demonstration, Worcester Public Library-Public Schools Art exhibits and Worcester Center for Crafts-Visions 2005 exhibit.

Sunday, the Fabulous Finale of the week, proves to also be a day of excitement, with the ECAC Mens Eastern Rowing Sprints on Lake Quinsigamond, and then 6:30 PM at Tuckerman Hall, The Evening of the Stars-A Tribute to Emil Haddad Sponsored by Worcesters own NPR Station WICN 90.5, featuring popular local artists like Dick Odgen, Cassandre McKinley, Monica Hatch and the nationally acclaimed Frank and Joe Show featuring guitar phenom Frank Vignola and drummer Joe Ascione. After the performance in the main hall, the jump blues and swing ensemble The Red Riders will perform downstairs for a little dancing and a whole lot of fun! Proceeds from this show will support the Emil Haddad Memorial Jazz Scholarship Fund. During intermission will be a very special unveiling of the Seven Wonders of Worcester contest sponsored by the70 year old Webster House Restaurant. Winners were chosen by a panel of Worcesters celebrity judges.

Donna McCabe, President of the Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau stated, Were excited about helping Worcesters arts and culture community to get the public recognition it so richly deserves¬ to mention vast amount of historical treasures we have here in the heart of New England.

A press conference, officially proclaiming Wake Up to Worcester Week, will be held on National Tourism Day, Wednesday, May 11th, 12 noon at City Hall. Also to be unveiled is the Worcester Cultural Map, featuring a street map and listing of cultural and higher education venues throughout the City. The map was designed by the Society of Professional Communicators, under the direction of Sally Anne Giedrys. Wake up to Worcester Week is coordinated by the Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Promoting Arts and Culture Committee of the Worcester Cultural Coalition. This program is funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, The Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Worcester Cultural Coalition, The City Of Worcester, the Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau and Commerce Bank.

For a detailed schedule of events of the week, visit the web at www.worcester.org and www.worcestermass.org/culture.

Contact: Jeannie Hebert
Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau
30 Worcester Center Blvd
Worcester, MA 01608
508 755 7400 X222
508 754 2703 FAX
jhebert@worcester.org

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