Welcome to Worcester! Whether you’re here for the first time or you’re a lifelong resident, there are plenty of things to do off campus in Worcester. When you’re taking a break from hitting the books, be sure to explore this wonderful city.

Moving to a new city can be intimidating, but luckily, we’ve got you covered with a list of the many reasons why you are going to love Worcester and how you can get involved in all that it has to offer!

College Communities

Worcester is known for being a college city – reason enough to love it! Between the great education opportunities and the diverse and vast college population, you’ll feel right at home.

A College of the Holy Cross graduate himself, Che Anderson, project manager with the Office of the City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr., knows a thing or two about being a student in the city. As project manager, Anderson helps to facilitate special events permitting, downtown Worcester programming and is involved in public arts initiatives.

Anderson’s advice to students? Get out and explore!

“You have to get off campus,” he said. “I spent a lot of time at other colleges and had some of my best experiences. There are so many hidden gems in the city – you just have to get out there and find them.”

Another Worcester college grad who has stayed in the city is Joshua Croke. Croke is a 2014 Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) graduate and is now CEO and director of Design Origin Consulting, which develops market strategy and brand positioning for companies.

Croke is also executive director and co-founder of Action! Worcester. This work connects students and young professionals in Worcester through collaborative economic development and entrepreneurship.

“When I look back on my college days, I wasn’t really encouraged to get off campus. It’s easy to stay siloed, but you have to get out there,” he said.

Croke recommends cross-registering between colleges. “By doing so, you can pursue other interests, and it’s a great way to meet people,” he said.

To further engage students, Action! Worcester will launch a student ambassador program this fall. “With this program, each college in Worcester will have a dedicated student ambassador to help communicate our message to students and help with engagement,” Croke said.

Food & Drink

We can’t talk about Worcester and not mention the amazing food and drink (if you’re 21+) options!

Being a college student, you’re going to love the casual dining in Worcester. Check out Smokestack Urban BBQ, Joey’s Bar and Grill, Elsa’s Bushel and Peck, BirchTree Bread Company, Armsby Abbey, Vintage Grille & Gourmet Pizza, Brew City, The Fix, British Beer Company, the Flying Rhino and The Wonder Bar.

Feeling fancy or want to celebrate the kickoff to the school year? The fine dining options in Worcester are abundant. Many of them can be found on Worcester’s well-known Shrewsbury Street. The 111 Chophouse, Via, Nuovo, Piccolo’s and Sweet Kitchen & Bar are all not to be missed.

There are plenty more fine dining restaurants throughout the city, including The Sole Proprietor, Bocado, deadhorse hill, Lock 50 and Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro.

Worcester also offers a variety of ethnic food. “There’s a great opportunity to eat internationally in Worcester,” Anderson said. Be sure to try El Basha (Middle Eastern), Kenichi Bistro (Asian), Anokye Krom (African), Pho Dakao (Vietnamese), Loving Hut (Vegetarian) Meze Greek Tapas Bar & Grille (Greek) and Mezcal (Mexican).

If Italian is your cuisine of choice, Shrewsbury Street has numerous options, including Leo’s Ristorante, Volturno and Padavano’s.

Last, but certainly not least, the diners! The history of Worcester diners dates back to the 1800s, so naturally, we’ve got some great spots. Make sure to visit the Miss Worcester, Kenmore, Boulevard, Parkway, Dinky’s, Blanchard’s 101, The Corner Lunch and Lou Roc’s.

Nightlife

Looking for a night out on the town? The Canal District and Shrewsbury Street are hot areas for nightlife, but there’s plenty all over the city! Perfect Game, Funky Murphy’s, Loft 266, the Banner Bar & Grille, The Compass Tavern, Citizen Wine Bar, Michael’s Cigar Bar, Victory Cigar Bar, Blackstone Tap and Whiskey on Water offer extensive drink menus, live music and dancing. Check Pulse’s Club Listings for a full list of nightlife options in the city.

Feeling playful? Jillian’s has arcade games, pool, live music and great special sporting events.

If you’re over the bar scene and/or not 21, head to one of Worcester’s hookah bars. Electric Haze and the Shisha Room are great spots to find yourself during a night out.

Another hookah bar, Spiritual Haze, was started by Clark University graduate Victoria Mariano.

“I fell in love with Worcester when I first moved here for Clark. The diversity in the colleges and city is intriguing, stimulating and fun,” Mariano said.

She and her classmates created Spiritual Haze to be a destination where people can meet people from every college, Worcester and surrounding towns.

“It’s a chill environment with art, board games, foosball, a pool table, snacks, shopping and, of course, hookah,” she added.

Mariano will also be opening Bull Mansion, a new American bistro, at the end of the summer that will feature some 18+ live music nights.

Entertainment & Music Venues

Are music venues or seeing a show more your scene? You can see your favorite band at the DCU Center or Palladium and catch live music at smaller venues like Ralph’s Rock Diner, Vincent’s, Beatnik’s and The Cove.

Mechanics Hall and the Hanover Theatre provide stages for many theater and music performances. Whether it’s a comedy show, musical theater, orchestral or dance performance, these venues are sure to please. If you’re looking for more music, check out Music Worcester, which represents symphony, chamber, dance and jazz genres and holds events at venues throughout Worcester.

Got a big group but not sure what to do? How about Worcester’s Escape Games? Escape Games Worcester is a real-life, live-action, escape-the-room game with a fully interactive experience. Get locked in a room and work together to get out!

Outdoor Activities & Parks

If you’re the outdoorsy type, Worcester and its surrounding areas provide many options.

A great hike after a long week of classes can be found at Purgatory Chasm and Wachusett Mountain. (Wachusett Mountain is also a popular spot for skiing and snowboarding in the winter!) Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and The Cascades are also beautiful areas for a nature walk.

If being on the water is more your speed, Regatta Point Community Sailing offers sailing on Lake Quinsigamond, while Blackstone River Bikeway is great for something active on land.

The parks are also a must! Elm Park and Green Hill Park are well-known spots in for exploration and relaxation. Whether you’re visiting for the first time, sitting on a bench and taking it all in, or jogging, these parks are sure to please.

“You don’t even feel like you’re in the city at Green Hill Park. I also love the food there at Grill on the Hill!” Croke said.

A few hidden gems to also see are Bancroft Tower, a 56-foot-high natural stone and granite tower that looks like a miniature castle, and Newton Hill Disc Golf Course.

Landmarks & Attractions

Make sure to also visit some city landmarks!

Coney Island is a city treasure for its old-school décor and cheap, scrumptious hot dogs. Once you’re done downing some dogs, head to Worcester’s downtown area and Worcester Common to snap pictures and take in the sights. While there, be on the lookout for the Turtle Boy statue, an unofficial mascot for the city!

Some additional landmarks and attractions are the Salisbury Mansion; Vietnam, Southwest Asia and Korean war memorials; the year-round Canal District Farmers’ Market; and the infamous Kelley Square. Once you see it, you’ll know why it’s infamous!

Art & Museums

Worcester’s art and history are also aspects of the city to explore. The Worcester Art Museum offers various exhibitions and collections that change throughout the year. The Worcester Historical Museum and Antiquarian Society provide a history of the area through extensive libraries, document archives and a wide collection of artifacts.

Looking to get crafty? The Worcester Center for Crafts offers instruction and a hands-on approach to learning and exploring ceramics, glass, metals and photography.

If you’re seeking to get closer to nature, The EcoTarium is a unique indoor-outdoor museum, offering a chance to walk through treetops, go through the galaxy in a digital planetarium and get interactive with interesting and educational exhibits.

Be sure to also check out Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, a beautiful botanical garden with views of Mount Wachusett and the Wachusett Reservoir. There’s nothing like a relaxing botanical garden after cramming for exams!

Festivals & Fairs

The city is proud of its amazing culture and diversity, and celebrating it through festivals and fairs is just one of many ways the city shows its pride.

StART on the Street is a fun and interactive art, music and performance festival. You can shop more than 300 artists and crafters and watch as artists and musicians create unique works right on the street!

If celebrating the art of food is more for you, try Taste of Shrewsbury Street. More than 30 restaurants and bars from the Shrewsbury Street neighborhood participate in the annual event. Between great food, live entertainment and local vendors lined up along the street, you’re sure to have a fun and delicious time. Don’t miss Shrewsbury Street Oktoberfest in the fall, when all participating restaurants feature German food, beer, music and more!

If you head over to the Canal District in the fall, you can partake in Canalloween, a Halloween-inspired event with a costume contest, parade and Monster Dash 5k run!

Action! Worcester also puts on several events. One of which is the POW! WOW! Worcester Mural Festival. The weeklong celebration was developed to strengthen community engagement and local tourism and features approximately 10 murals, artist panels and outdoor events.

If you’re staying in the city over the summer, make sure you check out the many cultural festivals in the city, including the Juneteenth, Italian, Grecian and Caribbean American festivals.

LGBTQ+ Community

Worcester is a city that embraces all and celebrates everyone. This is especially apparent in the city’s thriving LGBT community. The Worcester Pride Parade is an event that recognizes, unifies and celebrates the LGBT community, allies and supporters, as do Worcester’s many LGBT groups and meetups. Airspray, a group creating a series of LGBT community events throughout Worcester, brings people, dance, music and art together.

The Male Box is a fun lounge featuring live music, karaoke and other events.

Be sure to also check out LGBT resources and groups on your own campus!

Volunteer & Intern Opportunities

Attending college in Worcester also means being in a hub of amazing internship and volunteer opportunities. The city has a robust collection of companies and businesses, both local and broad-based. Getting experience through an incredible internship or volunteer opportunity will look great on your resume.

Campus Politics

As we approach the upcoming election – the first election in which the majority of current college students are able to vote – you might want to get involved politically on campus. Here are some organizations on your campus that can help you do so!

College of the Holy Cross
College Democrats: Email democrats@g.holycross.edu.
College Republicans: Email collegerepublicans@g.holycross.edu.

Clark University
Democrats of Clark University: Visit clarku.collegiatelink.net for more information.
Republicans of Clark University: Visit clarku.collegiatelink.net for more information.

Assumption College
College Democrats: Contact the Office of Student Activities at (508) 767-7403.
College Republicans: Contact the Office of Student Activities at (508) 767-7403.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
College Democrats: Contact the Student Activities Office at sao@wpi.edu.
College Republicans: Contact the Student Activities Office at sao@wpi.edu.

Now that you’ve gotten to know all the reasons you’ll love Worcester, get out there and explore!

By Rachel Shuster