Worcester

Around Worcester

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Metro area · Massachusetts · 881k people

Worcester

Locals say The Woo · “The Woo”, “The City of Seven Hills”, “Heart of the Commonwealth”

Seven hills, one heart, and a diner on every corner.

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Welcome to the Woo! Whether you're here for the WooSox, a hike up Wachusett, or a classic diner breakfast, you'll find a city with deep roots and a lively spirit. Get ready to explore the mill buildings, triple-deckers, and the friendly chatter at the local coffee shop.

Clubs for Worcester

No clubs for Worcester yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Worcester. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Worcester. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Worcester Art Museum Known for its diverse collection and the Higgins Armory collection.
  • EcoTarium Hands-on science and nature center with outdoor trails.
  • Polar Park Home of the Worcester Red Sox, opened 2021.
  • DCU Center Concert and convention venue in downtown.
  • Mechanics Hall Historic performance venue with acclaimed acoustics.
  • Hanover Theatre Broadway shows and concerts in a restored 1904 theater.
  • Outdoors Hike Mount Wachusett
  • Outdoors Paddle on Lake Quinsigamond
  • With kids Visit the EcoTarium
  • With kids See a WooSox game at Polar Park
  • Evenings Catch a show at the Hanover Theatre
  • Evenings See a concert at the Palladium
  • Locals love Classic diners
  • Locals love Local breweries

Through the year

  • StART on the Street September Arts and crafts street fair in September.
  • Worcester Film Festival October Annual film festival showcasing independent films.
  • Worcester Summer Nationals July Car show and motorsports event in July.
  • Worcester Half Marathon November Road race through the city in November.
  • Canal District Fest September Neighborhood festival with food, music, and vendors.

Worcester has a four-season climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best times to be out are late spring and early fall when the weather is mild and the foliage or blossoms are at their peak. Best: Late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October)

Talk like a local

“The Woo”
Nickname for Worcester
“Wistah”
Local pronunciation of Worcester
“Coney”
A Coney Island hot dog (a local favorite)
“Triple-decker”
The iconic three-family houses

Getaways

Local flavour

Teams

  • Worcester Red Sox MiLB (Triple-A)
  • Worcester Railers ECHL
  • Holy Cross Crusaders NCAA Division I

Also rooting for Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics

Eat and drink

  • Coney Island hot dog A local style of hot dog with chili, onions, and mustard, famously served at George's Coney Island.
  • Diner breakfast Worcester is renowned for its classic diners like Miss Worcester and Boulevard Diner, serving hearty breakfasts.
  • Table Talk Pies A local bakery famous for its small, hand-held pies, a true Worcester staple.

Where people go

  • Classic diners Worcester is famous for its concentration of vintage diners, like the Miss Worcester Diner and Boulevard Diner.
  • Triple-decker houses The iconic three-family wooden homes that dominate the city's residential landscape.
  • Mill buildings Historic textile and manufacturing mills, now often repurposed as lofts and offices, reflect the industrial past.
  • Worcester Common The central public park, a gathering place for festivals and everyday life.

Heritage and traditions

Worcester is proud of its working-class immigrant roots, its transformation from an industrial powerhouse to a cultural hub, and its quirky nicknames 'The Woo' and 'Wormtown'.

This time of year in Worcester

  • Leaf peeping at Mount Wachusett Fall Scenic drives and hikes for autumn colors.

Say it like a local: “bubbler” — drinking fountain

Festivals

  • Worcester County St. Patrick's Day Parade March One of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in New England, celebrating Irish heritage.
  • Greek Festival at St. Spyridon June Greek food, music, and dancing at the historic Greek Orthodox church.
  • Portuguese Feast of the Holy Ghost Summer Portuguese community celebration with food, music, and processions.
  • Polish Festival Summer Polish food, dance, and music, celebrating the city's Polish heritage.
  • Worcester Dragon Boat Festival Summer Dragon boat races on Lake Quinsigamond, highlighting Asian cultures.
  • Worcester Jazz & Blues Festival Summer Local and national jazz and blues performances across the city.

Landmarks with a story

  • St. John's Catholic Church One of the oldest Catholic parishes in the city, founded in the 1830s.
  • St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church Byzantine-style dome and rich Greek heritage.
  • Temple Emanuel Historic synagogue serving the Jewish community since the early 20th century.
  • First Unitarian Church Historic church on Main Street, known for its architecture.
  • American Antiquarian Society Research library with a vast collection of early American printed materials.
  • Union Station Restored 1911 Beaux-Arts station, a gateway to the city.

Food traditions

  • Paczki on Fat Tuesday Polish immigrants brought the tradition of making these filled doughnuts before Lent; local bakeries sell them on Fat Tuesday.
  • Portuguese sweet bread Massa sovada, a sweet bread made for Easter, from the Portuguese community.
  • Greek pastries at the Greek Festival Baklava, loukoumades, and other sweets served at the annual festival.
  • Italian sausage and peppers A staple at the summer Italian feasts on Shrewsbury Street.
  • Vietnamese pho The city's large Vietnamese community brought pho, now a beloved comfort food.

Music and arts

  • Wormtown punk rock scene The city's punk heritage, with bands and venues that earned the nickname 'Wormtown'.
  • Worcester Art Museum's collection Notable European and American art, including works by Monet and Cassatt.
  • Mechanics Hall's acoustics Renowned concert hall with superb sound for classical and jazz.
  • Hanover Theatre's Broadway series Hosts touring Broadway productions and concerts.

A little history

  • Worcester incorporated as a city. 1848
  • Abolitionist activity, with Abby Kelley Foster and others. 1850s
  • Industrial boom; known for wire, textiles, and manufacturing. 1880s
  • Robert Goddard conducts early rocket experiments at Clark University. 1902
  • Harvey Ball designs the smiley face in Worcester. 1963

Rivalries

  • Holy Cross vs. Boston College (hockey) Intense college hockey rivalry.
  • Worcester vs. Springfield Friendly banter over which is the true second city of Massachusetts.
  • Game day Holy Cross basketball at the Hart Center
  • Game day Worcester Bravehearts summer baseball
  • Outdoors Cross-country skiing at Mount Wachusett
  • Outdoors Ice fishing on Lake Quinsigamond
  • With kids Worcester Public Library story times
  • With kids Worcester Art Museum family days

Locals speak with an Eastern New England accent, often dropping 'r' after vowels; 'Worcester' becomes 'Wistah'. They use terms like 'bubbler' for drinking fountain and 'packie' for liquor store.

Only here

  • The nicknames 'The Woo' and 'Wormtown'.
  • The American Antiquarian Society's collection of early American imprints.
  • The city's many triple-decker houses.
  • The 'Worcester' accent.
New here? A few tips
  • Pronounce Worcester as 'Wuh-ster' or 'Wistah'.
  • Expect snowy winters and hot, humid summers.
  • Traffic on I-290 can be heavy; allow extra time.
  • Try a Coney Island hot dog and a diner breakfast.
  • Explore the Canal District for restaurants and nightlife.

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Part of Greater Boston

Nearby

Every area
PutnamConnecticutA quiet corner of New England charmProvidenceRhode IslandWhere rivers light up and coffee milk flowsAmherst–NorthamptonMassachusettsA valley of ideas and autumn leaves.BostonMassachusettsWhere every cobblestone has a story.SpringfieldMassachusettsWhere the river meets the mountains and history lives.GreenfieldMassachusettsWhere the river meets the hillsKeeneNew HampshireWhere the mountain meets Main Street.New London–NorwichConnecticutSalt air and shipyard steel

Worcester, MA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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