Blackstone River Valley
Blackstone River Valley

Worcester's Canalfest  PDF

#1, the Canalfest occurs annually in early September at  Harding Street and Castellana’s parking lot from 1-6. A temporary canal is recreated over Harding Street and food, fun and activities are aplenty. Please contact Noreen Hartigan, our volunteer coordinator, at (978) 870-6272 or gingery1973@yahoo.com for more information.

 Lt Murray Announces Canal Diggers 5K Race -

            #2, the following weekend, the Canal Diggers 5K is taking place – 11 a.m., Sunday, 9/16, starting at the AOH (Fiddlers Green) and running all over the Canal District, including, of course, Kelley Square. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a bunch of other whoop-de-do and festivities taking place as well, after the race. You can get info at www.canaldiggers.com.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Click on All:

Communities                           Shopping/Dining

Events Calendar                  Thursday Ranger Walkabouts

PDFs of Recreational Fun

PDF MAPS:                          Get on The River                 Birding                          MA Farmstands              Fall Foliage                     Industrial Tour            Canal Tour            Shopping Tour                    RI Birding

Antiques                      Annual Events               Arts & Culture        Attractions/Museums        Berries & Orchards   Biking & Bikepath          Boat Ramps
Camping                       Cruising Nights         Summer Concerts
Dining - Fine to Casual   Drive-Ins                   Fishing
Golf - Mini-Golf           Greenway Challenge          History of the Valley

Ice Cream                           
Lodging                                  
Paddling Itineraries
Recreation                    River Bend Farm                River Cruising
Rock Climbing                 Scenic Drives
Sleighrides                              
Swimming                            Trails                             Visitor Centers
Walking Tours       

 Links:

Bike Blackstone                Paddling Club

State Parks & Recreation

 

 

 

  

 

 Canalfest, along the Harding Street/Kelley Square area started in 2006 in an effort to visualize and gain support for the grand plan on recreating the old Blackstone Canal along the same route it used to flow. It still flows today, but under the streets and mingling with the sewer infrastructure. But the dreams are coming to fruition to transform this area into a "destination" that all of Worcester County will be proud of.

The event is held on September 8th. For info, go to www.blackstonecanal.org

An Artist's View of the Canal

 

SPECIAL PLACES: Kelly House / Purgatory / Waters Farm / Manchaug / Willard Clock / Asa Waters / Hassanamessit / Upton Beehive Chamber / The Forge / Chestnut Mtg House / Quaker Mtg House / St. Ann's Arts & Cultural Center /  Old Armories / Firsts / Dorr Rebellion / Pascoag Riverwalk / Daniels Farm / Blackstone Gorge / Millville Lock / Ironstone School / St Francis Orphanage / Indian Burial Ground / Hassanamessit / Slater Mill / Blackstone Canal / Lime Rock / St Brigid's Church / Vietnam Memorial / EN Jenckes General Store / Lookout Rock /   RI Outdoor Sculpture / Worcester Markers / Vaillaincourt Folk Art / Spaightwood Galleries / Daniels Farm / Walking Tours / Grafton Common / Douglas Hoop Barn /

SPECIAL EVENTS: Dragonboat Races / Footsteps in History / Autumnfest / Octoberfest / Greenway Challenge / Maple Sugaring / Races / Canalfest / Indian Powwow / Grafton Arts Festival / Colonial Muster / Trades Fair / Car Cruises / Fall Farm Days / Celtic Festival / Chain of Lights /

But the Valley's history, attractions and recreational fun go much deeper than the American Industrial revolution. Its ancestors helped shaped the Nation.  Enjoy some of  these unique, yet authentic stories and characters of the past:

Shays Rebellion - Lydia Taft - Indian Burial Ground - Ironstone School - Roger Williams

Chestnut Meeting House - King Philip's War -  Mumma Dudley - Nipmucs

Vaillancourt Folk Art - Upton's Hidden Treasure - John Hazeltine

Bud Gurney & Dorothea Waters - Stanley Woolen Mill - Al Consigli

A Short Blackstone Canal History - Winter's Gift - Colonial Gardens

Elizabeth Buffum Chace -  Dairy Farms

The Ghost of Tarkiln - Gun Making in the Valley - Not Just About Casinos

NATURE Articles: Gray Fox   Lost Grandeur   Hibernation   Birding    ACEC   Land Trusts

Check back

Browse our site and enjoy by clicking on the subjects to the left or above.   

 

 

For searching on the web,

Google