Play for Keeps
Redemption Rock, 333 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester
Play your favorite family board game while sipping on organic hot tea, coffee or for the adults in your crew, a seasonal beer. Share a soft pretzel or two made from a local, artisanal bakery in between turns. Check out the taproom calendar for fun upcoming events.
Strike Out
Bowlero, 405 Boston Turnpike Route 9, Shrewsbury
Lace up your bowling shoes, practice your swing, and gear up for some family-friendly competition. Bowlero offers online reservation for lanes in advance for those interested in planning ahead. Look forward to blacklight décor, lounge-style seating, and an extensive food menu with something for everyone to enjoy.
Tube The Trails
Ski Ward / 1000 Main Street, Shrewsbury
45 acres and nine slopes of winter fun! Ski Ward is one of the oldest continuously operating ski and snowboard areas in the country. The 10-lane TubaSlide is sure to provide a memorable experience for anyone in the family over age five. After an afternoon on the mountain, be sure to warm up at the Slopeside Bar and Grill with a hot soup or spiced tea.
Star Gaze
EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester
The EcoTarium’s Alden Digital Planetarium is a National Geographic theater complete with images from NASA and the Hubble Space Telescope. The forty-foot dome will take viewers on a celestial journey, showing images of planets and stars and make the great outdoors accessible, even in the midst of a frosty winter.
Journey Back in Time
Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge
No New England holiday is complete without a trip to Old Sturbridge Village’s festive Christmas by Candlelight. Guests can enjoy delightful live performances, cozy sleigh rides, and the roaring bonfire. The picturesque Village Common is the perfect place for holiday family photos.
Warm Fireside Chats
Salem Cross Inn, 260 West Main Street, West Brookfield
Fireplace Feasts at the Salem Cross Inn offer a unique opportunity to see a 1700’s style meal prepared over a hearth. All diners are welcome to watch cooking demonstrations as they happen. Enjoy a horse drawn sleigh ride on the Inn's pristine 600 acres before dinner is served.
Calling all Hockey Fans
Worcester Railers Hockey Club / DCU Center, 105 Commercial Street, Worcester
Children 12 years old or younger can join for free as a Worcester Railers “rookie” and receive one ticket to any Kids Giveaway Sunday game. Rookies have the chance to win monthly giveaways of hockey goodies and exclusive fan experiences, like riding the Railers zamboni.
Practice Your Moves on Ice
Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main Street, Worcester
From late November through February, there’s no grander destination than the City of Worcester’s 12,000-square-foot ice rink located in the shadow of City Hall. On-site skate rentals and concessions make the Worcester Common Oval the perfect place to glide along together to the holiday music.
A Winter Wonderland
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, 11 French Drive, Boylston
Winter Wonderland at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is the daytime garden experience billed as a special holiday treat for visitors from across the region. Indoor topiaries are festively decorated, and families are encouraged to enjoy scavenger hunts and hands-on learning activities.
Sing Along & Snack
BirchTree Bread Company, 138 Green Street, Worcester
Photo Credit: Birch Tree Bread Co.
BirchTree Bread Company’s Saturday and Sunday morning live music events provide the ideal opportunity to sip a warm drink and sing alone with the whole family. For a special treat, grab a few spoons and share the decadent double chocolate almond bread pudding.
Shop and Explore
Worcester Public Market, 150 Green Street, Worcester
Worcester Public Market is now up and running! Meet and explore more than 20 vendors, ranging from Irish goodies at The Tinker's Cart to new Worcester swag at Worcester Wares. Food enthusiasts will be in their glory with a fun assortment of meals and treats to satisfy any craving.
