The Blackstone Valley region of New England encompasses land from Massachusetts to Rhode Island. The area has an abundant supply of outdoor recreation activities, historical sites and landmarks, orchards and zoos. Throughout the summer and fall months, Blackstone Valley residents and visitors alike also find a variety of fairs and festivals designed to highlight the diversity, beauty and history of the region.
At the Blackstone Fall Family Festival and Craft Fair, visitors find a family-friendly experience with dining and shopping booths, rides, musical performances and agricultural demonstrations.
Created in 2008, this festival combines regional vendors with an agritourism focus. While the agritourism events of the festival vary from year to year, they frequently include hay rides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, horse rides and horse jumping demonstrations.
The festival also provides free entertainment ranging from local musical groups to a Revolutionary War re-enactment group.
Blackstone Fall Family Festival and Craft Fair
481 Purgatory Road
Whitinsville, MA 01588
508-234-9090
blackstonevalleyfallfestival.com
The Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival has been a fixture of the region since 2003. This July festival on the shores of Webster Lake features traditional Celtic dining options, as well as vendors who sell Celtic apparel, arts, crafts and other memorabilia.
Irish- and Celtic-themed bands, Irish step dancing performances, and the Men in Kilts competition provide the festival's entertainment.
Blacksmithing, glass blowing and weaponry demonstration booths provide visitors with an up-close education on Celtic history. Children's activities include face painting, balloon animals, games and craft making.
Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival
110 Church St.
Whitinsville, MA 01588
508-234-9090
blackstonevalleycelticfestival.com
The Blackstone Canal Fest is an annual September street festival designed to celebrate the history of Worcester's Canal District while highlighting how the neighborhood has evolved since the 19th century.
The festival centers on a replica of the Blackstone Canal, a feature of the district until the late 1800s. Other features include arts and crafts booths, dining options provided by local restaurants, musical and street performers, and kayak rides on the canal replica.
Blackstone Canal Fest
152 Millbury St.
Worcester, MA 01610
508-767-3483
blackstonecanalfest.org
The Waters Farm Fall Farm Days and Festival, hosted during October every year since 1979, focuses on farm life and features a number of farm-related activities, including tractor pulls, cooking demonstrations and a lumberjack competition.
Visitors can learn about antique farm equipment or tour the different farm buildings. A petting zoo, face painter, games, crafts and pony rides are available for children. The vendors at the festival reflect the farm theme and offer a variety of antique and handmade items for sale.
Waters Farm
4 Uxbridge Road
Sutton MA 01590
508-865-1921
watersfarm.com
The annual Festival of Ale, since 1990, is hosted at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester. This festival provides guests with samples of two dozen types of beers from local and out-of-region brewers, live musical performances and food vendors.
The price of the festival ticket covers both the admission to the festival, as well as admission to the Higgins Armory Museum.
Festival of Ale
100 Barber Ave.
Worcester, MA 01606
508-853-6015
higgins.org
