Jane Week 2026
May 4th-May 8th
Free to attend
Registrations required
What is Jane Week?
Jane Week gives Worcester residents and visitors a chance to connect to each other, explore Worcester by foot and participate in interesting discussions on how we can enhance the design and function of our city. The event is named for Jane Jacobs, an urban theorist and activist who championed a community-based approach to city building.
Worcester’s Jane Week joins an international movement that occurs in May in over 250 cities across the world.
All tours are free and open to the public.
Sorry, no dogs (except service dogs) are allowed on walking tours.
Event descriptions coming soon!
Who was Jane Jacobs?
Jane Jacobs (1916–2006) was an American-born writer and activist best known for her writings about cities. Her first book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), upended the ideas of modernist city planning and building, and offered a new vision of diverse, fine-grained cities made for and by ordinary people. She published six more major books about cities, economics, ethics, governance and culture.
Schedule of Events
MON
May 4
From Factory to Store to Neighborhood: Worcester's Whittall Mill Complex
Led by PW docent Alan Petrillo
Held at Acoustic Java, 3 Brussels St at 6:30pm​
TUE
May 5
Beacon Street Area Architectural Historic Walking Tour - Part 1: Then & Now
Led by Michelle Johnstone, Senior Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Worcester
Meet at the Corner of Main St and Hermon St at 2:00pm
​
Beacon Street Area Affordable Housing Walking Tour - Part 2: Now & Tomorrow
Led by Jeanette Tozer, Affordable Housing Trust Fund Manager for the City of Worcester
Meet at the Corner of Main St and Hermon St at 3:00pm
WED
May 6
Woodland, May and
Claremont Walking Tour
Led by Clark University public history students
Meet at the front porch of the Cohen-Lasry House, 11 Hawthorne Street.
THU
May 7
“Worcester’s first Jewish neighborhood-the east side experience”
Led by Moe Bergman, Preservation Worcester Docent, City Councilor, and attorney
Meet at 72 Providence St at 5:30pm
FRI
May 8
"The Land of Lincoln - Worcester Style"
Led by PW docent Ana Santos Restivo
Meet at 10 Cedar St at 3:00pm
