Central Mass Goes Green

Every March on St. Patrick’s Day, Irish pride shines bright in Central Massachusetts, a beautiful region of New England where 17.5% of residents claim Irish ancestry.

The Irish are just one of “the many unique cultures of our dynamic region,” says Monique Joseph, president of Discover Central Massachusetts, a dynamic visitors bureau representing 35 cities in Worcester County. She calls the region “a vibrant destination where the arts, history and community events create a rich, inclusive tapestry for visitors and locals alike.”

The 44th annual Worcester County St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 15, is the centerpiece of the region’s Irish pride. Parade Chair Erin Zamarro oversees 50 devoted volunteers who raise funds, book bands and stage this beloved annual rite of spring.  The two-mile parade, free and open to the public, draws up to 150,000 spectators each year.  It begins at Noon at Mill Street and Park Avenue and ends at Highland Street.  Bud Sargent, popular radio host of “Four Green Fields” on WCUW 93.1, gives live commentary about the parade on Spectrum Local News.

Also in March, Irish-American Colin Quinn brings his stand-up comedy show to Hanover Theatre on March 7.  Fiddlers’ Green Pub at the Hibernian Cultural Centre hosts traditional music sessions on Sunday, March 8 & 22, while Off the Rails Music Venue holds its St. Patrick’s Day party with live music and dancing on March 13. The Annual Celtic Celebration at Old Sturbridge Village on March 21-22 features live music, poetry, stories and local Irish history and heritage.

O’Connor’s Restaurant and Bar has been an epicenter of Irish-American dining in Worcester, with its popular corned beef and cabbage dinner and Shannon Bar, offering a global array of craft draft beers, wines and spirits. Other local Irish spots include Quinn’s Pub and Moynagh’s Pub, Worcester’s oldest tavern.

Erin Gift Store at Worcester Public Market in Kelley Square is a retail clothing & gift store bringing the best products from Ireland.

America 250

Central Massachusetts’ role in the American Revolution takes center stage in 2026 as part of America 250 celebrations. The Worcester Revolution of 1774, in which local residents peacefully ended Royal authority in Central MA, is celebrated as a prequel to subsequent famous episodes in American history.
The Worcester Revolutionary Walking Trail features museums, cemeteries and historic houses, including the spot where Henry Knox’s “Noble Train of Artillery” passed through Central Mass in January 1776.

Another point of local pride is Irish immigrant Dr. Matthew Thornton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He spent his youth in Worcester, where he studied medicine in nearby Leicester before joining the Revolutionary War. 

For more details on America 250 celebrations in Central Massachusetts, visit discovercentralma.org/250th.

To learn more about hotels, restaurants, breweries, cultural venues and historic sites in Central Massachusetts, visit discovercentralma.org.