We've lived in and loved Central Massachusetts for decades, and year-after-year there are seasonal highlights every visitor should know about! Plan your visits around these experiences that will make your trip even more memorable. If you're a planner of group experiences, so many of these ideas are perfect for crowds and the attractions may offer special deals and ammenities to accomodate your crew.
spring
WHEN: Late March, April, May, and early June
WEATHER: Mild temperatures, sunshine and unpredictable showers invite blooming flowers and a refreshing, lush, green atmosphere.
WHAT TO DO:
- Catch a Broadway show at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts.
- Go for a hike and enjoy the waterfall at Cascading Falls in Worcester
- Spend the day visiting the animals, and even ride a camel, at Southwick’s Zoo.
- Take a hike at Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, where glacial meltwater helped create granite walls as high as 70 feet approximately 14,000 years ago.
- Take a bike or walking tourr or the public at murals in Worcester.
- Picnic on the beautiful grounds of Moore State Park, a peaceful 737-acre destination in Paxton that features stunning rhododendrons, hiking trails, grist and saw mills from 1747, ponds, and waterfalls.
- Take a food and drink tour of Shrewsbury Street, known as “Restaurant Row” during mid-June's Taste of Shrewsbury Street, Worcester's favorite food festival.
- Explore local shopping and dining at the Worcester Public Market.
- Listen to live country music, or head to a line dancing night at Off the Rails.
- Plan a paint and sip night in Sturbridge at Brush it Off, and be sure to try their splatter room.
- Attend Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village.
summer
WHEN: Late June, July, August and early September
WEATHER: Hot, humid, mostly sunny days, perfect for outdoor activities and festivals, with occasional thunderstorms.
WHAT TO DO:
- Explore Green Hill Park: Kids will love the free Barnyard Zoo, or bring groups to play a round of golf at the Green Hill Park Municiple Golf Course.
- Hop aboard the Indian Princess, an authentic paddle wheel riverboat, and cruise Indian Lake in Webster.
- Catch a Worcester Red Sox game at Polar Park.
- Enjoy a famous banana split sundae from Gibby’s Ice Cream Shop in Worcester.
- Grab a sought-after beer at Tree House Brewery.
- Head to The Farm at Summit Wynds for their annual Lavendar Farm Fest.
- Pick your own berries and enjoy live music at Douglas Orchard and Farm.
- Attend the Annual Butterfly Festival at Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Worcester
- Catch a free summer concert and grab lunch from a food truck at the Out to Lunch Concert Series on the Worcester Common.
- Hike a rare swampland boardwalk trail then cool off with a dip in the lake at Douglas State Forest.
- See nationally known musicians in concert outdoors at Indian Ranch.
- Plan your visit around local annual cultural festivals, such as India Day, the African Festival, Worcester Caribbean Festival, Saint Mary’s Albanian Festival, Saint Spyridon Grecian Festival - and more!
fall
WHEN: Late September, October, November, and early December
WEATHER: Crisp air and cool temperatures make for cozy sweater weather in a picturesque landscape of vibrant, alluring foliage.
WHAT TO DO:
- Explore the trails of Hadwen Arboretum in Worcester
- Attend a fall festival at Wachusett Mountain, such as KidsFest, AppleFest, BBQFest, and Oktoberfest.
- Pick your own apples and enjoy an apple cider donuts and homemade fudge at Brookfield Orchards.
- Old Sturbridge Village has tricks and treats for evening visitors during special dates in October who attend Phantoms by Firelight, a thrilling experience for all ages.
- Take in the foliage at scenic landmarks like Old Stone Church in West Boylston or Worcester’s Bancroft Tower.
- On the first weekend of December, attend the annual Music Worcester presentation of The Worcester Chorus: Handel’s Messiah at Mechanics Hall, a holiday season tradion running for over 120 years.
- Taste the Pioneer Pumpkin wine at Hardwick Vineyard and WInery in the picturesque town of Hardwick.
- The annual Vaillancourt Christkindlesmarkt & Artisan Show features curated artisans, German food and drink at the outdoor Christmas market in Sutton.
- Take a walk around Southwick’s Zoo at night and marvel at the lights during the Festival of Illumination.
- Starting in November, Fireside Feasts at Salem Cross Inn are a series of 1700’s style feasts, prepared on the open hearth of a great fieldstone fireplace.
- The Friday-Sunday after Thanksgiving, the Worcester Center for Crafts is transformed into a European-style holiday marketplace for the Holiday Festival of Crafts.
winter
WHEN: Late December, January, February and early March
WEATHER: Cold temperatures, snowy landscapes, and sometimes icy conditions encourage unique outdoor experiences and warm indoor retreats.
WHAT TO DO:
- Ice skating at the Worcester Common Oval
- Discover the magic of Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village.
- Go snow tubing or skiing at Ski Ward in Shrewsbury.
- Spend a full day skiing or snowboarding on the 27 trails at Wachusett Mountain.
- Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride at Cornerstone Ranch.
- New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill becomes a glowing winter wonderland in the during the annual Night Lights evenings in December.
- Check out a planetarium show and engaging science exhibits at The Ecotarium
- Visit the world’s largest collections of armored vehicles and tanks at American Heritage Museum in Hudson.
- Learn about the American Industrial Revolution in New England at the Samuel Slater Experience, a historical museum with interactive, high tech exhibits.
- Holiday season magic is plentiful at Worcester Art Museum, with special events and displays, such as Flora in Winter and the annual Deck the Halls days.
- The Festival of Lights at Worcester Common is a celebration with live music, food and the city’s tree lighting ceremony.
- Visitors to Oakholm Farm and Brewery will be delighted by locally brewed beers, horse drawn wagon rides and special opportunities to learn dog sledding.
