Worcester's 20th Harvey Ball Will Be Online In 2020

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester will keep its smile, even in the midst of a pandemic.

The annual Harvey Ball celebration — named for the local creator of the iconic smiley face design — will be held virtually this year, the Worcester Historical Museum said on Tuesday. The 20th annual ball will take place Oct. 2, which is World Smile Day.

The event will feature a week-long silent auction of local art, pre-made food for sale, plus a show on the night of the ball.

"We have a spectacular show being planned by professional technicians and a great committee, that will feature the best entertainment ever!" Worcester Historical Museum executive director William Wallace said in a statement Tuesday.

The event will also feature 20 people to be honored for their work in the region. This year's honorees are:

• City Manager Edward Augustus
• Worcester Medical Director Michael Hirsh
• Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty
• Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts director Melanie Bonsu
• State Sen. Harriette Chandler
• Ricky Duran, runner-up of the 2019 "The Voice" competition
• Retired Chief Justice Martha Grace
• Boys & Girls Club of Worcester director Judi Kirk
• Satya Mitra, Ph.D.
• Attorney AiVi Nguyen
• Alisan Porter, winner of the 2016 "The Voice" competition
• POW! WOW! Worcester
• St. John’s Food Pantry
• stART on the Street
• Muslim Community Link founder Imrana Soofi
• Nipmuc Tribe member Nellie Toney
• Former Institute of Latino Arts & Culture director Dolly Vazquez
• Vision for Worcester (Paul Demoga, Edward Madaus)
• Dee Wells
• Worcester Art Museum Director Emeritus James Welu
• WooFood Favorites (George’s Coney Island, Table Talk Pies)
• Worcester Women’s Oral History Project

Harvey Ball created the smiley face in 1963 as part of a moral-boosting campaign for employees of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company.