Dining, Entertainment and Fun Family Activities Located in Worcester and Throughout Central Massachusetts
Restaurants
Worcester offers a wide variety of dining options. The second largest city in Massachusetts is home to some of the area's best restaurants. Click here to view a list of restaurants in Worcester and throughout Central Massachusetts.
Entertainment
Central Massachusetts has an eclectic music, arts and entertainment scene. The DCU Center is Worcester's arena and convention center complex located downtown. The facility hosts concerts, sporting events and family shows. The arena is home to the Worcester Railers professional hockey team and Massachusetts Pirates arena football team. Baseball fans can catch a Worcester Bravehearts game at Fitton Field, and beginning in 2021, the Boston Red Sox AAA affiliate - the Worcester Red Sox - will play in a brand new 10,000 seat stadium in Worcester's Canal District!
The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 2,300 seat theatre that brings Broadway, world-class musicians, comedians and family shows to downtown Worcester. Recent performances include "Kinky Boots," "Jersey Boys," Jerry Seinfeld, Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Disney Jr. Live, Shen Yun, and Celtic Woman.
Another venue in downtown Worcester is the nation's finest pre-Civil War concert hall, Mechanics Hall. Recent performances include classical, jazz, The Boston Pops and world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
The Worcester County Light Opera Company produces a wide variety of theatre works, from comedy to tragedy and contemporary to classical.
The Seven Hills Symphony provides free performances to the UMass Medical community throughout the year.
Attractions
Worcester Art Museum is home to over 38,000 pieces dating from 3,000 B.C. to the present day, and represents cultures from all over the world. Highlights include a Medieval Chapter House, the Worcester Hunt Mosaic, and the Flemish Last Judgment tapestry. WAM is also home to John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, comprising two thousand arms and armor objects.
Another local gem is the Museum of Russian Icons located in nearby Clinton, MA. Housed in a 150 year old former mill building, it holds one of the largest private collections of Russian icons and artifacts outside of Russia, and the largest in North America.
History buffs should visit Worcester's American Antiquarian Society, with an extensive collection of printed materials from pre-Colonial to pre-Civil War eras. If you're interested in local history, the Worcester Historical Museum offers programs, events and exhibitions. Did you know that the space suit, rocket fuel, birth control and the smiley face all originated in Worcester?!?
Outdoor Recreation
Central Massachusetts offers something for everyone! Enjoy seasonal activities such as skiing and snowboarding, apple picking, rail trails for riding bicycles, walking or jogging. There are many beautiful golf courses and even a few disk golf courses. If you love being on the water, there are plenty of area lakes and rivers for fishing, paddling or boating.
Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary has five miles of trails. It's one of dozens of Massachusetts Audubon properties waiting to be explored. Tower Hill Botanical Garden is a beautifully planned year-round display of the finest plants and gardens, with walking trails throughout the 170-acre property.
Wachusett Mountain Ski Area is only 10 miles away in Princeton, MA, with 20 ski trails, and is a also great place for hiking all year long.
Children and Families
The EcoTarium is Worcester's indoor-outdoor science and nature museum with interactive exhibits, live animals and a children's train ride.
Southwick's Zoo is New England’s largest zoo with more than 850 animals in naturalistic habitats including lions, tigers, giraffes, chimpanzees and rhinos. Attractions include the Skyfari Sky Ride, Soaring Eagle Zip Line, 35-acre Deer Forest, petting zoo, walk-through aviary and animal presentations and encounters.
Davis Farmland and Mega Maze combines a petting zoo and children's play area. They also have a seasonal corn maze.
Old Sturbridge Village is one of the country's oldest and largest living history museums, which allows you to visit 1800's New England.
Shopping
There are plenty of indoor and outdoor malls in the area including The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley in Millbury, Worcester Public Market, Solomon Pond Mall in Marlboro, the Natick Mall and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets.
Nightlife & Local Breweries
The City of Worcester stays up late with live music, bars, dance clubs and plenty of late-night eats. Enjoy the revitalized Canal District, as well as the many establishments on Shrewsbury Street, known locally as "Worcester's restaurant row." Don't forget to check out one of our region's many famous diners!
Central Massachusetts is a hot spot for beer enthusiasts. There are more than a dozen local breweries for craft beer lovers.