Events happening around Central Massachusetts in September!

Pride Week
With events such as Pride Paints the Woo and the LGBTQIA+ Pageant leading up to the Pride Parade and Pride Festival, Worcester’s Pride Week has a lot going on! The participation of all, regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identity, HIV status, national origin, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation, are welcome. Sept. 5-9; various locations throughout Worcester; many events are free, some require tickets; worcesterpride.org.

Farm Fresh Festival
Join the celebration of the Massachusetts Agricultural & Specialty Food community, featuring locally grown and produced foods. Enjoy a huge farmers market, samplings from local wineries, cooking demonstrations, live music and even a petting zoo! 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 8; Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton; tickets range from $3-$13; wachusett.com.

Fallon Health Canal Diggers 5K
Take part in this fast, flat course that will take you through downtown Worcester and the historic Canal District. After the race, receive your finisher’s medal and stick around for food, beer, entertainment by Joshua Tree and loads of fun! This all-volunteer, 100-percent charitable race will benefit the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Foundation. 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8; Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre, 19 Temple St., Worcester; $35 to register, $30 for students with a college ID, $12 for youth 1K; canaldiggers.org.

stART on the Street
Experience Central Massachusetts’s largest art, music and performance festival! Music and performances are diverse and right on the street, allowing the whole family to become part of the acts! Plus, there will be various food vendors. Art, entertainment and food – a perfect beginning to fall! 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16 (rain date is Sunday, Sept. 23); Park Avenue, Worcester; free; startonthestreet.org.

Pulse’s Chili and Chowder Fest
Some of our city’s top restaurants are battling again for the title of Worcester’s Best Chili or Best Chowder. Indulge in live music, activities and, of course, the food! Purchase of an admission sticker entitles you to try chili and chowder samples from all participating restaurants. Then, cast your vote for the Peoples’ Choice Award! 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22; Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St., Worcester; $15, $5 for children (12 and younger); admission stickers available for purchase at participating restaurants, online and at the event; worcchilichowderfest.com.

Manhattan Short Film Festival
From more than 300 cinemas across six continents, thousands of film-lovers will unite in viewing and voting on the finalists’ films in the 21st annual Manhattan Short Film Festival! Films will be shown at 7 p.m., with one matinee showing on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 4 p.m. Sept. 27-Oct. 6; The Park View Room, 230 Park Ave., Worcester; $15 general admission, $10 with valid student ID; eventbrite.com.

Worcester Wine Festival
The Worcester Wine Festival is back for its second year! From Sept. 4-9, you’ll be able to taste wines around the city of Worcester. Wine dinners will be held at Willy’s Steakhouse (Sept. 4), Bocado (Sept. 5), Sonoma (Sept. 6), Lock 50 (Sept. 7), and deadhorse hill (Sept. 9). You’ll also be able to check out special brunches at Altea’s (Sept. 8) and Lock 50 (Sept. 9). And don’t forget the grand tasting at Union Station on Sept. 8. The Grand Tasting is the main event for the week’s celebration and will feature 400+ hand-curated wines for guests to sample, as well as tastings from selected restaurants and a small number of hand-picked vendors specializing in arts, retail and more. Sept. 4-9; various locations around Worcester. Grand tasting is Sept. 8 at Union Station; VIP tickets (11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) are $125, Session 1 General Admission (1-5 p.m.) are $60, Session 2 General Admission (2:30-5 p.m.) are $45; WorcesterWineFestival.com.

Savanah Hippert