Community

The culture of Worcester, Massachusetts is close knit and one that people boast about. Proof: a whole store was created just to sell Worcester swag—Worcester Wares. Really. The city is rich with a vibrancy unmatched in most communities. There is a collaborative, innovative and demonstrative energy that flows through every neighborhood. You can you feel it most in the Kelley Square neighborhood. A variety of cultures are represented all around Worcester through pockets via restaurants and shops. Each neighborhood has its own flair.

As the most walkable part of the city, we will now be home to the Worcester Public Market (WPM). Every great city has a lively marketplace. With over 27 wonderful ethnic shops located in the city center, the complimentary marketplace will be a one stop shop and a destination for the city and the surrounding towns. Worcester Public Market will be a hub for all of the 7 hills and beyond.

Our people—from students, professionals, writers, poets, artists, scientists, researchers, tradesmen, manufacturers, our locals, our diverse immigrant communities and our beloved transplants from our multitude of world-class colleges and businesses create a huge salon culture in the city. The networking of ideas and cross pollination is infectious. We always stay true to who we are around here and there is overlap everywhere. We have a million subcultures, and once you find your people you fall in love with this place. Really. Worcester, a city of disruptors, innovators, agitators. We ignited revolutions and our edge and grit is celebrated everywhere you look, especially in this neighborhood.

CREATIVE CULTURE

Pow! Wow! Worcester, an annual, world-wide mural event that has put up over 100 murals by international and local artists also connects our vibrant creative spaces. Many murals from the festivals are located in and around The Canal District, within walking distance.

One of the most amazing community events in the city as a BIG collaboration. Proof positive of our vibrant creative culture are the grass roots and boot strapped businesses, co-working, incubator and makerspaces around the city. The Sprinkler Factory, pictured above, is an amazing art space built up over the years in an old factory building, provides a welcoming venue to nurture and promote the visual and performing arts communities. The Sprinkler Factory hosts curated exhibitions twice a month that are free and open to the public.

we are all friends here

Proudly, Worcester is also home to a thriving LGBTQ community with a celebrated Pride parade and annual parties, fashion shows, drag brunches and even drag storytime at Worcester Public Library. The neighborhood has really embraced the community, as you can see by the flag waving proudly on I-290! The district boasts the oldest gay owned lounge in the city, The Male Box and many queer friendly places can be found throughout the district and the city, like Electric Haze and Bull Mansion for the AirSpray parties and the sultry Nick’s Lounge, who cater to a more adult crowd. Any night of the week you can find writers, poets and artists ordering everything from an absinthe to a draft. Vincent’s and Ralph’s are always welcoming to a cool crowd, as well. Worcester people are passionate and rally for our neighbors and we are proud to have city and state officials that are forward thinking and supportive of all people in our community.

Our diversity continues in all neighborhoods, we have crazy vibrant ethnic communities, specifically our Italian, Irish, Greek, Albanian, Polish, Jewish, Brazilian, Asian, Latino/Hispanic and African communities (+more) who host BIG vibrant festivals around the city every year. Visit many of our ethnic markets, where goods are imported to make Worcesterites feel at home. There are endless discoveries in all of them.

worcester is A BIG college town

Our students add significantly to our community. Intellectual capital is big here, one of our proudest assets is our colleges. We proudly have a consortium of 9 world-renowned colleges and universities. The first, Holy Cross was founded in 1843, with WPI following in 1865 and Clark University in 1887. In our 245 acre city, we have over 35,000 college students.

In the city center alone, you can see all the students from MCPHS walking, as their campus is spread around all of downtown. Quinsigamond Community College has also found a new satellite campus in the city center. Students are everywhere. Clark University anchors the south side of Main Street, Assumption College and Worcester State University to the west, while Becker College, a major gaming education center sits right off Main Street in the Elm Park Neighborhood with an sister campus in Leicester. One of the biggest, is University of Massachusetts Medical School to the east on the Shrewsbury line. Our campuses rival the most beautiful in the world!

Kelley Square Lofts is central to all of the colleges in the city with quick access to major routes. Popular study and meetup locations are all over the Canal District as well. Birchtree Bread next door is a favorite of many students, while you have Nick’s across the square, known for its professor, journalist, writer, musician, artist, bohemian, music loving, cross-dressing, eclectic crowd. There is no shortage of cool places to eat, hang out, to study, work or relax.

sports of Worcester

Worcester is called “The Heart of Massachusetts” and there is no place more full of team spirit on and off the field than here.

HOCKEY
We have become a bonafide New England hockey town, with a new professional women’s team, Worcester Blades, whose games will draw major Olympian skaters to town to play. Men’s hockey is long rooted in the city, with competitive youth leagues, high school and college leagues, so much so that ice time became very scarce. That is all different now with the Worcester Ice Center, which created a wonderland for hockey lovers from all over Central Massachusetts right in the center of The Canal District. Our semi-pro men’s hockey team The Railers that calls it home have embraced the city with a gusto that is unparalleled. With the ice center and The Railer’s Tavern, the presence of hockey has spread itself around the city and into the hearts of all.

BASEBALL

THE BIGGEST NEW IN TOWN! Baseball has long been in our blood. Our outstanding little league teams are all named after baseball legends all related to Worcester, from Jesse Burkett to Ted Williams, Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. Twice in the last 10 years our kids have gone to the Little League World Series and they are proud to have won State and Regional Champs repeatedly for almost two decades. Continuing a long tradition with the grassy diamond, Worcester is known for it’s baseball history. In 1880, pitcher Lee Richmond threw the first perfect game in Major League history! Today, the vibrancy has a blinding shine with our member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, The Bravehearts, whose home is Fitton Field on the Holy Cross Campus and our newest addition, the biggest news to hit Worcester in decades, a professional minor league baseball team The Worcester Red Sox, a member of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, is coming to our neighborhood, next door to be exact! Polar Park will feature shops and restaurants inspired by Worcester landmarks as well.

FOOTBALL

Besides all the amazing college football, with D1 Holy Cross, we have the new Massachusetts Pirates, who are a professional arena team and a member of the National Arena League (NAL). The team is based in Worcester, Massachusetts and play their home games at the DCU Center.

BASKETBALL

After almost 3 decades, Worcester also offers a men’s pro basketball team called The Worcester 78’s! A member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), the team hosts home games brand new athletic facility on the campus of Worcester State University. The team was named after our historical blizzard of ‘78. Elite hoop talent is back in town! Worcester is home to “The Cooz” Bob Cousy, who played point guard for the Celts from 1950 to 1963. He earned a scholarship to Holy Cross, where he lead the team to a #4 National ranking. As a testament to The Cooz, JFK wired to him: "The game bears an indelible stamp of your rare skills and competitive daring."

RECREATION

We also have many very competitive adult leagues. With a diverse population, we have an incredible competitive soccer community, with international teams competing annually at the Worcester World Cup. For golf lovers, central MA boasts over 18 golf courses that are public and private. We have a competitive rugby league and are home to many world-class boxers.

Green outdoor spaces abound in Worcester. If team sports are not your thing, you can find indoor and outdoor climbing and hiking, water sports and many yoga studios and gyms, as well as winter sports at the local ski/snowboarding areas. Worcester also has the largest outdoor skating rink in the New England.

Local family owned businesses

Our community of locally owned businesses in The Canal District is diverse—from locksmiths to professional kitchen outfitting. These folks are networked and have many been established for generations, so everyone is quick to make referrals and help wherever they can.

Here is a list of businesses in The Canal District.