Museum After Hours: FAB! ‘Anything can happen in the next half hour’
Friday 21 August 2026, 6.30 – 9pm | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Thunderbirds Are Go with amazing music and cocktails at the second Museum After Hours of the summer!
Step into the 60s with DJ DSP who’ll be playing tracks from the decade and beyond. ‘Anything can happen in the next half hour…’ or a bit longer!
The bar will be open, so raise your glass with a sophisticated Lady Penelope or try an explosive Tracy Island and immerse yourself in our summer show 54321 FAB!
Free entry. Fancy dress encouraged!
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Museum After Hours is also on Friday 24 July 2026!
Museum After Hours is aimed at adults, 18+.
Music Night in the Garden | The DeadShots
Saturday 8 August 2026, doors open 6pm | The Commandery
Music night at The Commandery returns! The DeadShots will be here for a summer evening of live music in the beautiful walled gardens.
Established in 2015, the DeadShots have brought together their influences of Rockabilly, Country, Blues, Punk and Rock in a unique mix to create foot-stomping original tracks and blur the lines of songs you thought you knew.
The DeadShots have played all over the UK and proved that their brand of Rockabilly belongs bang in the 21st century.
Bring along your own chairs and blankets to settle into the gardens – a limited number are available on the night.
The bar will be open and freshly cooked pizzas will be available from the brilliant Little Al’s Kitchen. To help support this and future events, only food and drink purchased on site can be consumed.
- Doors open 6pm, music from 7pm
- Pizzas available until 8.30pm, the bar closes at 10pm
£10. Get your tickets below!
Oak Apple Day 2026
Bank Holiday Monday 25 May, 10am – 4pm | The Commandery
Oak Apple Day returns to The Commandery! 🌳
Step back in time to 1660 and celebrate the restoration of the crown on Bank Holiday Monday in a fantastic day bringing history to life in Worcester.
Oak Apple Day marks the historic moment when King Charles II returned to the throne following the English Civil War.
Where better to commemorate this historic moment than at The Commandery, the Royalist Headquarters in the final battle of the Civil War?
Delve into an exciting day of living history for all the family – there’ll be:
- Fantastic reenactors to encounter as you make your way around The Commandery
- Musket firing in the gardens
- Pike and cannon drills for children (and grown-ups!) to get hands-on with
- History talks about Oak Apple Day and the English Civil War from Worcester Reenactors and The Battle of Worcester Society
- Wonderful refreshments available at Little Al’s Kitchen at The Commandery
Enjoy fun family activities: can you find all of the beautifully decorated royal carriages around the building? Then, create your own Oak Apple mobile in the craft room (general admission + £3.50 for trail and activities).
Oak Apple Day family craft
Oak Apple Day 2026 is part of a commemorative programme of events for the 375th anniversary of the Battle of Worcester, 1651.
Plan your visit
General admission applies (+ £3.50 for the carriage trail and craft activities); free admission to those with a season or residents’ pass. Find out more.
Book day tickets to The Commandery. Advance booking is not essential, you can just turn up, pay in the shop, and get stuck in!
What is Oak Apple Day?
The Commandery is one of the only places in the UK to still celebrate Oak Apple Day, also known as Restoration Day.
This spring tradition marks the anniversary of the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 following the English Civil War – and has a special connection to the city of Worcester, the scene of the deciding battle in 1651.
Nine years after Charles II hid from Parliamentarian troops in an oak tree following the loss of his Royalist cause at the Battle of Worcester, he returned to the throne on his thirtieth birthday, 29 May 1660 – which became the annual celebration of Oak Apple Day.
Plan your visit to The Commandery and see what you can tick off the Top 10 Highlights list!
Bite-size Talk | Textiles Unfolded: Caring for, and curating, the costume collection
Tuesday 12 May 2026, 2 – 2.30pm | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Join the costume curator to learn about the importance of Worcestershire’s costume collection, how it is cared for and the collection’s significance to the county.
£4.95 for the talk. Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum is free to visit.
The 2026 Worcester 100 Open Call Exhibition
The Artery Studios, Arch 28 Croft Walk, WR1 3BD
Free Entry
The Worcester 100 Open Call Exhibition is now open at the Artery Studios featuring 100 works by 100 local artists.
Visitors can expect a lively, varied display of contemporary work, from painting and printmaking to photography, sculpture, ceramics & textiles. Visitor entry is free, with voluntary donations supporting the Worcester 100 Youth version of the exhibition taking place in November.
Exhibition Opening Times
- Saturday 14 March: 11am – 6pm
- Sunday 15 March: 11am – 4pm
- Wednesday 18 March: 11am – 5pm
- Thursday 19 March: 11am – 5pm
- Friday 20 March: 11am – 6pm
- Saturday 21 March: 11am – 6pm