Joe Petty Talks About An 18 Hour A Day City

Petty highlighted the success of a recent downtown DJ event that drew over 10,000 people to the Palladium with no incidents, noting the event may be outgrowing its current venue. The conversation expanded to broader questions about Worcester's nightlife and street festival culture, drawing comparisons to Boston's post-World Cup discussions about extended bar hours and open-air entertainment zones. The mayor expressed support for regular street closures and outdoor events, pointing to existing successes on Shrewsbury Street, Water Street, and the city common, as well as the work of the Worcester BID.