 YOUR LOCAL WORCESTER DIGEST | Thursday's here, Wormtown! Big week for caps, gowns, and long-weekend plans! Today alone, we've got Saint Paul's High School and Quinsigamond Community College grads walking.
And tomorrow, it's the College of the Holy Cross folks taking over the DCU. Plus, Worcester's city budget just hit a cool billion bucks — wild, right? a new Tiny Home Village is breaking ground, and Memorial Day weekend is rolling in with trivia, live music, beer gardens, and plenty of reasons to get out of the house.
So grab a coffee, settle in, and let's dive into what's good. | In This Week's Issue: - Graduation Central: Who's Walking When
- Worcester's Billion-Dollar Budget & Tiny Homes
- Memorial Day Weekend Events & Local Hangouts
- Meet Pebbles: Your New Best Friend?
| Wormtown Weekend Poll What’s your ideal long weekend plan? Graduations, live music, local eats, backyard hangs, or one heroic nap? Tell us what kind of weekend you’re chasing. One tap records your answer and takes you to our confirmation page. | |  | Do you know what kind of bird this is? |  u/RazzBeth · r/whatsthisbird · ↑459 · 20 comments | |  | What's moving in Worcester County | Worcester's FY '27 Budget Reaches $1 Billion City Manager Eric D. Batista announced Worcester's proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, marking the municipality's first $1 billion operating budget. This milestone is driven by significant state aid and private investments within the city. Why it matters: This budget signifies a major financial milestone for Worcester, reflecting robust economic growth and increased capacity for public services and development. Read More › Tiny Home Village Breaks Ground in Worcester The "Seeds of Hope Tiny Home Village," a four-unit development, broke ground on Claremont Street. This project aims to provide permanent supportive housing specifically for homeless seniors. Why it matters: This initiative addresses a critical social need by offering stable housing and support for vulnerable seniors, contributing to community well-being. Read More › | |  | Mark your calendars, Wormtown | Memorial Day weekend is creeping up, which means the calendar is doing its annual stretch. Here are a few easy ways to get out, celebrate local, and still keep room for the cookout leftovers. Trivia Night at Birchtree Bread Company Round up the group for Thursday trivia with food, craft cocktails, local beer, and prizes for the top three teams. A solid pre-holiday-weekend warmup if your crew likes bragging rights with dinner. 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 · 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM 📍 Birchtree Bread Company, 138 Green Street, Worcester, MA Saint Paul's High School Graduation Attend the graduation ceremony for Saint Paul's High School. 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 · 7:00 PM 📍 Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA More Info › Quinsigamond Community College Graduation Graduation Ceremony 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 📍 DCU Center, Worcester, MA More Info › Open Hack Open Workshop/Hack Session 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 📍 Technocopia More Info › 2026 Massachusetts Conference on Volunteerism 2026 Massachusetts Conference on Volunteerism 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 · 8:00 AM 📍 DCU Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA More Info › Park Commission Meeting Park Commission Meeting 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 · 8:00 PM 📍 Hudson, MA (Zoom Link provided) More Info › College of the Holy Cross Graduation College of the Holy Cross Graduation 📅 Friday, May 22, 2026 · 10:00 AM 📍 DCU Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA More Info › Historic & Architectural Tour Historic & Architectural Tour 📅 Friday, May 22, 2026 · 12:00 PM 📍 The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, Worcester, MA More Info › Madrigal Mania Madrigal Mania 📅 Friday, May 22, 2026 · 5:00 PM 📍 Tempo, Hudson, MA More Info › Teen Friday Night Book Club Teen Friday Night Book Club 📅 Friday, May 22, 2026 · 7:00 PM 📍 Ten Trees Books, Marlborough, MA More Info › THE WEALTH SHIFT Attend THE WEALTH SHIFT event. This gathering focuses on wealth-related topics and discussions. 📅 Sunday, May 24, 2026 · 2:30 PM 📍 Hilton Garden Inn Worcester More Info › Got an Event Coming Up? Whether it's a craft fair, a concert at your cousin's brewery, or a holiday lights display, share it here. | |  | Your next best friend is waiting |  Pebbles Meet Pebbles 3 years old female Pit Bull Terrier/Mix Adoption Fee: $225 Pebbles is a gentle pitbull mix ready for a fresh start after being found as a stray. She has been soaking up attention from shelter staff and volunteers, showing her sweet nature and loving heart along the way. Pebbles enjoys affection, kind words, and taking things at her own pace. She may be able to have dog friends or live with another dog, but she can get shy when play becomes too much and will retreat when she feels overwhelmed. Pebbles would thrive with adopters who will make her a part of the family, and explore the world with her. If there are to be children in the home, they should be older and able to be respectful of dogs. With love, understanding, and a cozy place to call home, Pebbles is ready to begin her next chapter. Walk-In Adoption Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 12 to 4 PM Can't make it? Complete our online adoption inquiry form and we'll arrange a meet and greet. Contact WARL: [email protected] or call (508) 853-0030 | |  | This week's best local stages | Memorial Day weekend deserves a soundtrack. Here are the local stages, cozy corners, and Friday-night spots worth putting on the group text. Rabble Rounders at Birchtree 📅 Friday, May 22, 2026 · 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM 📍 Birchtree Bread Company, 138 Green Street, Worcester, MA Kick off the long weekend with live local music, craft cocktails, local beer, handmade pizzas, fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, and a cozy Green Street Friday-night vibe. Matt Brodeur at Mr. Z’s 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 · 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM 📍 Mr. Z’s By The Lake, 2400 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI Matt Brodeur Music brings a lakeside Thursday-night set for anyone willing to make the quick Rhode Island hop before the holiday weekend. Matt Brodeur at Galliford’s 📅 Friday, May 22, 2026 · 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM 📍 Galliford’s Restaurant & Tavern, 2 Southwick St, Mendon, MA A Friday-night Matt Brodeur Music set at Galliford’s, perfect if your long weekend starts with dinner, drinks, and live acoustic energy. Matt Brodeur at Piccolino’s 📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026 · 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM 📍 Piccolino’s Restaurant, 4 Mill St, Shirley, MA Keep the holiday weekend moving with Matt Brodeur Music at Piccolino’s on Saturday night. Wage War Concert 📅 Friday, May 22, 2026 · 7:30 PM 📍 Palladium, Worcester, MA See Wage War perform live in concert. Tickets / Info › Outdoor Beer Garden Opening with Live Music 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 · 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM 📍 Medusa Brewing Company, Hudson, MA Enjoy live music at the outdoor beer garden opening. Tickets / Info › Malodies Karaoke 📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026 · 7:00 PM (doors) 📍 Electric Haze, Worcester A night of karaoke. Tickets / Info › | |  | A local gem worth knowing |  Orange Salon in Millbury, MA (outside view) Orange Salon Millbury, MA Orange Salon in Millbury, MA, is a local destination for beautiful hair and expert care, offering a welcoming experience from start to finish. They specialize in color treatments, employing highly trained and experienced stylists with top national and international training. The salon is committed to using high-quality, professional products to support hair health and integrity, ensuring guests leave feeling confident and completely taken care of. Why we love it: This week, with graduations and new beginnings in the air, a fresh look from Orange Salon can help you feel your best. Their focus on personalized style and hair health offers a perfect opportunity for a confidence boost. Location: 70 Worcester-Providence Turnpike, Millbury, MA 01527 Parking: On-site parking available. | Thank you, Wormtown Man, it felt like every cap and gown in the Commonwealth was out and about this week, didn't it? Seeing all those bright faces at Saint Paul's High School graduation over at Mechanics Hall really makes you feel good about the future of this city. And with Memorial Day weekend coming up, it feels like Worcester is officially shifting into summer mode. Now, if you're looking to belt out a tune (or just laugh at someone else trying to), hit up Malodies Karaoke at Electric Haze. If your crew is more trivia-and-table-snacks, Birchtree has you covered Thursday night, then rolls right into Friday live music with Rabble Rounders. Alright folks, that's all for this week – keep those tips coming, and I'll catch you next time.
— Team Wormtown Weekly |
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