50 Things to do this Fall in Central Mass with Kids!

50 Things to do this Fall in Central Mass with Kids! Worcester is the second largest city in New England, making Central Mass a gold mine for kid-friendly things to do in the fall.  For more fall family fun, check our regular calendar of events.

50 Things to do this Fall in Central MA

• Visit the EcoTarium. Ride the train and visit the animals and get tickets to the newly-renovated Planetarium!  See their website for special events.
• Visit Purgatory Chasm for a family fall hike!
• Spend the day at Old Sturbridge Village and travel back in time. Interact with costumed historians and learn about life in the 19th century. Phantoms of Firelight dates are 10/6 – 10/29! Get your tickets in advance.
• See what is happening at Discovery Museum in Acton. Fall is a great time to burn some energy in their Treehouse and Adventure Hill. The first Friday night of each month (4:30-7:30) are free admission nights. Advance tickets required.
•  Find a new playground to explore!
  

  Castle in the Trees

• Get tickets to a special event at Southwick’s Zoo! The Great Jack-O-Lantern Journey begins on 9/28!
• Book a fall guided trail ride in Princeton at Cornerstone Ranch!
• Go Apple Picking!  Find an apple orchard near you with our Apple Orchard Guide.
• Get lost in one of the Central MA Mazes!
• Visit the Davis Farmland through mid October! Rates are lower than summertime and they have special fall events!
• Davis Megamaze: Withces & Wizards is open weekends in October as well as Columbus Day. Fun for the whole family!

• Don’t miss the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill Myths, Magic and Monsters! Journey with NEBG through a realm of Myths, Magic, and Monsters, where anything is possible, and the impossible is real.
• Go to the fair! There are fairs & festivals in Central MA every single weekend through October.  See our Guide to Central MA Fairs and Festivals.

• Hike with Goats! With Central MA Goat Rentals in Lunenburg. Hikes are roughly 1 hour.  Wear your hiking gear.  All ages.
• See our guide to Central MA Halloween Light Displays and check some out!
• Spend the day at West End Creamery. They have their Fall Festivals each Friday night as well as Saturdays and Sundays through October. Corn maze and lots of family activities!
• Overlook Farm  – Check out their classes and events!  Their Farm Fest is usually mid October.
• West Boylston Fall Festival is October 21 on the town common.  Lots of family fun!
• Visit Worcester Art Museum. WAM always has great fall events.  And don’t forget about First Free Sundays!
• Check out Battle for the Airfield WWII Re-Enactment Weekend at the American Heritage Museum October 7-8.
• RWP Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular! Begins on 9/28. WCKC went last year. It was amazing!
• Head to Salem for a Slightly Spooky Kids Tour! (Slightly out of Central MA)
• Fall is a great time to experience Boundless Adventures Aerial Park in Berlin! Open through late November.
• Rent Kayaks and Canoes at Nashoba Paddler Rentals through October 22.
• Hike the Mass Audubon trails at Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester or Wachusett Meadow in Princeton.
• Explore Shrewbury’s Secret Garden
  

  Shrewsbury’s Secret Garden

• Listen to live music at Stone Cow Brewery. Get yummy ice cream and maybe a brew. Kids will love the farm animals and playground.
• Visit the barnyard friends at Greenhill Park!
• Don’t miss Hillando’s Haunted Halloween Maze! It’s free but donations appreciated for Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services. Opens early October and runs Fridays-Sundays.
• Check out Moore State Park in Paxton.
• Rock House Reservation – One of our favorite hikes!
• The Holidays are coming. (Anybody else getting a jump start?) Find and support a local book or toy store. 
• See a Railers Game at the DCU Center! Opening home game is 10/25!  See the Railers Schedule Here.
• The Stowe Farm in Millbury has fall festivals every weekend for the season!
• Visit the Santos Family Lights (Formerly Worcester Holiday Display) for a Halloween light show.  Usually begins late September and runs nightly at dusk.
• Get tickets to Witch’s Woods Haunted Hayride.  If you dare. Starts 9/29.
• Looking for stroller or bike friendly hikes this fall?  See our list here and try somewhere new!
• Haven’t dined at Davis BBQ yet? It’s a great place for a yummy family meal and a chance to see a small collection of the Davis Farmland animals in the attached animal barn.
• We love Honey Pot Orchards located in Stowe. With lots of family friendly things to do including 3 mazes, we feel it’s worth the trip.  Just outside Central MA.
• Head to the orchards for PYO Pumpkins!  Here is where you can go locally.
• The Forest of Fear Haunted Hayride in Grafton is back.  October 20 & 21!
• Chestnut Hill Farm has some neat fall events like a harvest moon hike, preschool farmer explorer days, and more.
• Hey Day Festival. Sign up for this annual event at Wachusett Meadow! Sept 23!
• Already missing summer vacations? Get a day pass to Great Wolf Lodge for some water fun and pretend like it is summer all over again.
• Take a stroll through Boo Meadow Brook. October 20; 6pm-8pm. Get your tickets in advance!
• Annual Country Roads Christmas Tour begins November10 and runs for 30 days! This suggestion is actually for the moms!

What did we miss?  Tell us about it in comments!

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