 YOUR LOCAL WORCESTER DIGEST | Hey, so you made it to Thursday! Welcome to this week’s issue of Wormtown Weekly, and a big welcome as well to all of our new subscribers. We’re glad you’re here. As Worcester County keeps edging further into spring, this week’s issue is filled with plenty of reasons to get out and explore what’s happening around town and beyond. From fresh local business buzz and community happenings to a strong lineup of live music across Worcester, Auburn, and nearby spots, there’s a lot to check out in the days ahead.
Don't forget, if you've got a business that needs a shoutout or an event to promote - get in touch! Just reply to this email and I'll make it happen 100% free. | In This Week's Issue: - Wormtown Brewery Reopens Its Expanded Worcester Tap Room
- Root and Press Expands Into Auburn With New Cafe Location
- The Flourish Summit 2026
- Ringling Bros. are back!
| |  | What's moving and shaking in Worcester County | Halal Buns Is Heading To Kelley Square A new restaurant called Halal Buns is expected to open at 11 Kelley Square in Worcester. Owner Fayyaz Bhinde told the Worcester License Commission the spot will serve gourmet burgers, chicken sandwiches, loaded fries, and milkshakes, and the Common Victualer license was approved on April 2. Why it matters: Kelley Square keeps adding fresh food options, and this one looks positioned to bring late-night energy to the neighborhood with daily hours planned until midnight, and until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Read More › Wormtown Brewery Reopens Its Expanded Worcester Tap Room Wormtown Brewery’s Worcester Tap Room at 72 Shrewsbury St. has officially reopened after renovations. Patch reports the project nearly doubled the space from 4,500 square feet to more than 8,600 square feet, with room for 300 guests, a full kitchen, 16 taps, more communal seating, and a new private event space. Why it matters: This is a big reopening for one of Worcester’s best-known local brands, and the larger tap room should mean more room for gatherings, events, and nights out on Shrewsbury Street. Read More › Creative Hub Worcester Sets Grand Opening Celebration Creative Hub Worcester has scheduled its ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration for Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 4 to 8 p.m. at 2 Ionic Avenue. The Worcester Regional Chamber listing says the event is free, though RSVP is required. Why it matters: This is a major creative and community investment for Worcester, and the opening marks a new arts-centered space that has been years in the making. Read More › Root and Press Expands Into Auburn With New Cafe Location Root and Press has added an Auburn location inside Lundgren Honda at 163 Washington Street. The cafe’s website lists the Auburn spot as opening in April 2026, and Lundgren Honda’s Facebook page promoted a grand opening for Thursday, April 9. (Today!) Why it matters: It is a nice example of a Worcester small business expanding into Auburn, and it gives the town a new local coffee-and-work meetup option instead of another generic chain stop. Read More › | |  | Mark your calendars, Wormtown | Here's what's coming up in Wormtown and the suburbs. Trivia Night - Worcester Join us every Thursday from 6 to 9 PM for Trivia Night at BirchTree Bread Company. Great food, craft cocktails, local beer, and prizes for the top three teams. 📅 Thursdays, 6:00 to 9:00 PM 📍 BirchTree Bread Company, 138 Green Street, Worcester, MA 01604 The Flourish Summit 2026 A purpose-driven leadership and networking summit focused on inclusive leadership, future-ready skills, and professional connection. It is scheduled at the Hogan Campus Center at Holy Cross and runs as a full-day event. 📅 Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:45 AM - 3:30 PM 📍 Hogan Campus Center, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610 More Info › Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair The statewide high school science fair is taking place in Worcester and brings student researchers together for a major STEM showcase. 📅 Thursday, April 9, 2026. Judges arrive starting at 8:00 AM and the event runs until about 1:00 PM. 📍 DCU Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA 01608 More Info › Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents The Greatest Show On Earth The DCU Center is hosting the latest Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey arena production during the issue window, making it a strong family-friendly pick for the week. 📅 Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:00 PM 📍 DCU Center Arena, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA 01608 More Info › My Best Girl, Silent Film accompanied by Clark Wilson on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ The Hanover Theatre is presenting the 1927 silent romantic comedy My Best Girl with live accompaniment by Clark Wilson on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. 📅 Friday, April 10, 2026, 7:00 PM 📍 The Hanover Theatre Main Stage, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA 01608 More Info › Speaker Series: Astrophysics The EcoTarium’s speaker series on April 11 features Greg Tucker of Brown University and focuses on observing distant astronomical phenomena. 📅 Saturday, April 11, 2026, 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM 📍 EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604 More Info › A Flood of Pictures: The Formation of a Picture Culture in the United States The American Antiquarian Society is hosting this public program as part of its lecture lineup, with both in-person and hybrid access noted on its events pages. 📅 Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT 📍 American Antiquarian Society, 185 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609 More Info › “It’s a Zoo In Here” Closing Reception / Zoo Happy Hour This closing reception at the Harold Stevens Gallery includes the final hours of the playful multi-artist animal-themed exhibition, a special puppet performance by Amanda Gibson, and themed programming during the reception. 📅 Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 📍 Harold Stevens Gallery at WCUW, 910 Main Street, Worcester, MA More Info › Worcester Revolutionary Adult Tour The Museum of Worcester is offering an adult tour at Salisbury Mansion tied to Revolutionary-era Worcester history. 📅 Thursday, April 16, 2026, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 📍 Salisbury Mansion, 40 Highland Street, Worcester, MA 01609. The organizing museum is the Museum of Worcester at 30 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609. 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 |  Courtesy of WARL Meet Chichi Chichi is a 1 year, 1 month old female Pit Bull Terrier/Mix who weighs 44 pounds. Adoption Fee: Please inquire ChiChi is a joyful, silly pitbull mix with a big personality and even bigger zest for life! This energetic girl is always ready for fun, whether it's playtime, zoomies, or making you laugh with her goofy antics. Her cheerful spirit is contagious, and she thrives on activity and engagement.ChiChi is looking for a fresh start after her previous family sadly lost pet-friendly housing. She's ready to bring her love and enthusiasm to a new home that can keep up with her lively nature. ChiChi has no history with cats, so slow introductions or a cat-free home may be best. Due to her high energy level, she would do best with older kids who are comfortable around an active, playful dog. 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 | Fresh picks across Wormtown and the suburbs. Save these dates and support your local venues. Bob Moon - Worcester 📅 Friday, April 10 - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM 📍 BirchTree Bread Company, 138 Green Street, Worcester, MA 01604 Kick off Friday night with Bob Moon live at BirchTree Bread Company, where the music pairs with craft cocktails, local beer, and BirchTree’s house-made pizzas, sandwiches, and other artisanal fare in a cozy setting. Dan Gay & the South High Players - Worcester 📅 Fri, Nov 21, 2025, 6:00 to 9:00 PM 📍 BirchTree Bread Company, 138 Green St, Worcester, MA Kick off your weekend with Friday Night Live Music at BirchTree. Cozy room, craft cocktails, local beer, and house-made eats. Poison the Well - Worcester 📅 Thursday, April 9 - 7:00 PM 📍 The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608 Poison the Well brings its “Peace in Place” tour to Worcester with Converge, S.P.Y, and Balmora for a heavy-hitting Thursday night lineup. Tickets / Info › Splendid Torch - Worcester 📅 Thursday, April 9 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 📍 Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608 Mechanics Hall’s Club 321 series welcomes Splendid Torch for an intimate downtown set filled with indie rock, Americana, and rootsy energy. Tickets / Info › The Amity Affliction & August Burns Red - Worcester 📅 Friday, April 10 - 6:30 PM 📍 The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester, MA 01608 Metal fans can catch The Amity Affliction and August Burns Red with Boundaries and Dreamwake for a stacked Friday bill at The Palladium. Tickets / Info › Matt Brodeur - Framingham 📅 Friday, April 10 - 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM 📍 Ken’s Steak House, 95 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01701 Matt Brodeur brings a solo acoustic set to Ken’s Steak House with classic rock favorites in a relaxed dinner-and-drinks setting. Tickets / Info › John PayCheck & Jake Hunsinger - Worcester 📅 Friday, April 10 - 8:00 PM (doors 7:00 PM) 📍 Off The Rails, 90 Commercial St., Worcester, MA 01608 Off The Rails hosts John PayCheck & Jake Hunsinger for a Friday night country-rock show in the Canal District. Tickets / Info › True North - Auburn 📅 Friday, April 10 - 8:00 PM to 11:30 PM 📍 Halligan’s Bar, 889 Southbridge St., Auburn, MA 01501 Classic rock band True North is set for a Friday night show at Halligan’s, giving Auburn readers a nearby option for live music, dancing, and a lively bar crowd. Tickets / Info › Matt Brodeur - Worcester 📅 Saturday, April 11 - 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 📍 Tatnuck Country Club, 1222 Pleasant St, Worcester, MA 01602 Matt Brodeur heads to Tatnuck Country Club for an early evening performance featuring his crowd-friendly acoustic style. Tickets / Info › We and the Dawg with Johnny Blue Horn - Worcester 📅 Saturday, April 11 - 7:00 PM (doors 6:30 PM) 📍 WCUW Frontroom, 910 Main St., Worcester, MA 01610 We and the Dawg delivers a dance-friendly mix of soul, funk, and R&B from the ’70s to today, with Johnny Blue Horn joining the band for a lively Frontroom show. Tickets / Info › Yellow Brick Road: Elton John Tribute - Auburn 📅 Saturday, April 11 - 8:00 PM 📍 Halligan’s Bar And Function Hall, 889 Southbridge St., Auburn, MA 01501 Elton John fans can sing along to the big hits when Yellow Brick Road brings its tribute show to Halligan’s on Saturday night. Tickets / Info › TWELVEOC with Gavin Marengi - Worcester 📅 Saturday, April 11 - 8:00 PM (doors 7:00 PM) 📍 Off The Rails, 90 Commercial St., Worcester, MA 01608 New England’s own TWELVEOC headlines at Off The Rails with Gavin Marengi for a Saturday night set built for loud guitars and a packed room. Tickets / Info › Cheryl Arena and Mike DiBari & the Band - Worcester 📅 Sunday, April 12 - 5:00 PM (doors 4:30 PM) 📍 WCUW Frontroom, 910 Main St., Worcester, MA 01610 Blues fans can catch harmonica standout Cheryl Arena and guitarist Mike DiBari for a Sunday evening set that leans into classic American blues and R&B. Tickets / Info › Reverend Horton Heat - Worcester 📅 Thursday, April 16 - 8:00 PM (doors 7:00 PM) 📍 Off The Rails, 90 Commercial St., Worcester, MA 01608 Reverend Horton Heat rolls into Worcester with Black Joe Lewis and Piñata Protest for a high-energy rockabilly night at Off The Rails. Tickets / Info › | Thank you, Wormtown Thanks for reading. If this issue helped you find a new favorite or skip a pothole, we did our job. Send us your hidden gems and events, and we'll keep the local love rolling. — Team Wormtown Weekly |
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