Mid-September in Worcester County is the sweet spot: the first real hint of fall is in the air, the apples are coming in, and there is genuinely something for everyone this weekend. Downtown Worcester is buzzing with a free family festival at Elm Park and two headline shows on the big stages, while the hills around the county host a barbecue festival, an apple festival, and a craft festival all at once. Grab your calendar and a light jacket for the evenings, because here is your complete September 18–20 roundup.
Friday, September 18
Brit Floyd (Pink Floyd tribute)
The world-renowned Brit Floyd brings its "The Moon, The Wall and Beyond" tour to The Hanover Theatre on Friday night. Widely considered the greatest Pink Floyd tribute on the road, the show packs the full spectacle: lasers, a full light show, and note-perfect performances of the classics. If you love The Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall, this is the can't-miss concert of the weekend, right in the heart of downtown.
Get tickets at TheHanoverTheatre.org
WooSox vs. Durham Bulls (Home series opener)
The Worcester Red Sox open a home series against the Durham Bulls at Polar Park on Friday night. It is a full weekend of baseball downtown, with first pitch Friday at 6:05 PM, Saturday at 4:05 PM, and a Sunday afternoon getaway game at 1:05 PM. Grab a hot dog, find a seat with a view of the Worcester skyline, and soak in the last of the summer ball season.
Tickets & schedule at WooSox.com
Queer AF in Denim (Draglesque Festival kickoff)
Kicking off the Worcester Draglesque Festival weekend, Queer AF in Denim is a high-energy evening of drag and burlesque at Mechanics Hall on Friday night. It is a celebratory, joyful start to a festival that has grown into one of the most talked-about cultural weekends in the city. Wear something fun, come ready to cheer, and let the performers set the tone for a big Saturday ahead.
Festival info at MechanicsHall.org
Saturday, September 19
Worcester Day of Play (Free family festival)
The 15th annual Worcester Day of Play Family Festival takes over Elm Park on Saturday, and it is completely free. Expect games, crafts, performances, community organizations, and hours of room to run and play in one of the city's most beautiful parks. It is one of the best family-friendly afternoons of the fall, a wonderful low-pressure way to spend a sunny September day (rain date is Sunday, September 20). Bring a blanket and stay awhile.
Festival details at WorcesterDayOfPlay.org
Worcester Draglesque Festival (Drag & Burlesque Showcase)
Saturday night, the Worcester Draglesque Festival presents its headline Drag & Burlesque Showcase in the grand Mechanics Hall auditorium. Expect an evening of show-stopping performers, glitter, and pure stage charisma in one of the region's most beautiful venues. It is a warm, celebratory night out downtown and a true highlight of Worcester's cultural calendar.
Get tickets at MechanicsHall.org
BBQFEST at Wachusett Mountain (All weekend)
Head up to the mountain this weekend for BBQFEST at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, a two-day celebration of smoked meats, barbecue vendors, live music, and crisp mountain air. Ride the gondola up for the views, taste your way through the pit masters, and take in the golden September scenery. It is a fantastic excuse to spend a day in the hills west of the city.
Event details at Wachusett.com
Hollis Hills Farm Apple Festival (All weekend)
North of the city, Hollis Hills Farm in Fitchburg celebrates apple season all weekend with its Apple Festival. Pick your own apples, wander the farm stand, and enjoy the classic fall-in-New-England atmosphere, with plenty of cider and baked goods to round it out. It is a relaxed, family-friendly outing and a great way to bring the season home.
Plan your visit at HollisHillsFarm.com
Fruitlands Craft Festival (All weekend)
Just over the county line in Harvard, Fruitlands Museum hosts its annual Craft Festival this weekend, set against one of the most scenic hilltop settings in Central Massachusetts. Browse work from dozens of juried artisans, explore the historic buildings and galleries, and take in the sweeping views. It is the perfect pairing of craft, art, and autumn scenery.
Festival info at TheTrustees.org
Dying Fetus & Friends (Live music)
For the metal crowd, Dying Fetus headlines a stacked bill at The Palladium on Saturday night, joined by Sanguisugabogg, Left to Suffer, Crowbar, and Deterioration. It is a brutal, high-energy night of heavy music in one of the Northeast's best metal rooms. If that is your scene, you will not want to miss this one.
Get tickets at ThePalladium.net
Gardner Farmers Market (Saturday staple)
Start Saturday morning at the Gardner Farmers Market, where local growers and makers sell fresh produce, baked goods, and more through the fall. It is a friendly community market and a great place to grab weekend groceries straight from the people who grew them. Perfect before you head out to an apple festival or the mountain.
Sunday, September 20
WooSox vs. Durham Bulls (Getaway day)
The WooSox wrap up their homestand with a Sunday afternoon getaway game at Polar Park at 1:05 PM. Afternoon baseball in the fall sunshine is hard to beat, and it is a relaxed way to spend a September Sunday with the family. Grab a seat, cheer on the home team, and enjoy one of the best ballpark settings in New England.
Worcester Public Market (Sunday hours)
If you are in the city on Sunday, stop by the Worcester Public Market on Front Street. A rotating lineup of homegrown vendors serves up prepared food, fresh produce, artisan goods, and coffee all under one roof. It is an easy, low-pressure way to wander on a September Sunday, taste your way through locally made everything, and bring home a few groceries.
Visit WorcesterPublicMarket.org
Enjoy the Weekend
In case that is not plenty to fill your calendar: the Worcester Day of Play rain date falls on Sunday if Saturday's weather turns, the Hollis Hills Apple Festival, BBQFEST, and the Fruitlands Craft Festival all run both days, and the city's neighborhood farmers markets at Beaver Brook Park, University Park, and Exchange Street keep going through the fall. Each farm and market sets its own hours, so check the pages before you head out and bring an extra bag for the apples.
Between the free family festival at Elm Park, the barbecue on the mountain, the shows downtown, and a weekend of baseball at Polar Park, Central Massachusetts is giving you every reason to get out there. The fall festival season is officially underway, and it only gets better from here.
Have a gorgeous September weekend, friends. Whether you are playing in the park, cheering on the WooSox, or holding an apple bag at the farm, I hope your calendar is full of the good stuff. If you have been thinking about making Worcester County home, I would love to help you find the right fit, and I am always happy to talk market or community any weekend, festival or not. See you out there.
- Worcester Day of Play – Sat, free, Elm Park
- Brit Floyd at The Hanover Theatre – Fri, 7:30 PM
- Worcester Draglesque Festival – Fri & Sat, Mechanics Hall
- BBQFEST at Wachusett Mountain – Sat & Sun
- Hollis Hills Apple Festival – Sat & Sun, Fitchburg
- Fruitlands Craft Festival – Sat & Sun, Harvard
- WooSox vs. Durham Bulls – Fri–Sun, Polar Park
- Gardner Farmers Market – Sat, 9:30 AM–1 PM