MetroWest has a number of charming, historic town centers and cultural districts that make for a lovely day of wandering. Explore these gems this winter:
Natick Center Cultural District
The Natick Center Cultural District’s majestic neo-gothic architecture serves as a visually impressive backdrop for the cultural offerings surrounding the town common. The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), housed in a c. 1875 fire station, is a premier performing arts center and an anchor of the District, which is also home to over 100 working artists and dozens of independently-owned restaurants and boutiques. The quintessentially New England common provides ample green space and a gazebo for public concerts and festivals, including Art in the Park, ArtWalk open studios, Earth Day, Holi Festival, Juneteenth Festival, Multicultural Day, a Holiday Lighting and Stroll, and Natick Nights, a weekly summer arts and cultural event with vendors and performers. The District is famous for a vast array of public art including murals, mosaics, painted electrical boxes, temporary installations and more.
Marlborough Downtown Village Cultural District
This District is the “cultural heart” of the city—an architecturally attractive, ethnically diverse, and inviting area easily accessible by bus, car, bike, and foot. The many steeples and spires of City Hall and area churches create a skyline visually unaltered since 1905. The Marlborough Historical Society’s unique “Museum in the Streets” self-guided walking tour features 24 panels of archived photographs and info about the city’s history. The Cultural District is home to the annual Brazil Fest, Food Truck & Arts Festival, Greek Festival, Marlborough Classic Car Show, a summer concert series, and New England’s largest Labor Day parade and Bed Race. Be sure to check out the District’s painted electrical boxes and other public art.
The Franklin Cultural District is home to the nation’s first public library, the Franklin Historical Museum, Dean College School of the Arts, The Black Box theater, a variety of restaurants and boutiques, and over 25 other performing, visual arts and dance studios and associations. In addition, the District’s plethora of public art includes the Franklin Sculpture Park; murals in the District’s alleys; 25 individually-decorated ladybug statues (pick up a map to find them all!); and a new series of murals on electrical boxes…plus we’ve heard the fire hydrants are up next! Each year the Cultural District hosts the Harvest Festival, Strawberry Stroll, Celebrate with Pride festival, a multi-day 4th of July celebration with carnival, concerts, and fireworks, and a summer concert series, plus the Franklin Farmers Market, with local farms, craft and other vendors, live music, and food trucks.
Framingham Centre Common Cultural District (FCCCD)
This Cultural District includes two local historic districts and a National Register of Historic Places District—Framingham’s first meetinghouse was built here in 1698, and the town hall in 1834. Today the area is a vibrant mix of residential neighborhoods, restaurants and small businesses, and religious and non-profit institutions. District anchors include Framingham State University, the Danforth Art Museum, and the Framingham History Center. Centre Common is home to the city’s huge weekly farmers market, as well as the site of many fairs, festivals, and a summer concert series. The FCCCD’s “Many Cultures, One Heart” public art project includes 32 uniquely-decorated heart sculptures installed citywide representing Framingham’s racial and cultural diversity. Visit their website to download a map for a fun scavenger hunt! The city is also home to a variety of murals by acclaimed contemporary artists.
Voted one of the most picturesque small towns in Massachusetts, Hudson is eminently walkable. From the Clover Road Brewing Company on one end of town to Medusa Brewing on the other, you can wander through Hudson’s charming shops and boutiques, with stops in between for a little aerial yoga, an escape room, or a cocktail in a real speakeasy (hidden in a cobbler’s shop!). Just outside of downtown is the American Heritage Museum, full of immersive exhibits highlighting their one-of-a-kind collection of antique planes, tanks, and automobiles. Head a little further down the road to The Wayside Inn in Sudbury—the oldest inn in America offers excellent dining in their cozy restaurant warmed by fireplaces, as well as historical exhibits around the property, including at the beautiful Grist Mill. Book early to get one of the restored inn rooms for the night.
Holliston is a little New England town just off the beaten path, with quaint charm and diverse attractions. Explore the downtown’s boutiques, shops full of locally-made artisanal products, and coffee shops, then grab your bike and hop on the Upper Charles Rail Trail. Part of the 50+ miles of rail trails in the region, this path meanders through woods, over brooks, and past downtown. The famous 8-arch stone bridge is part of the trail north of town, and the lovely new Blair Square is on the southern end of town and a perfect spot for concerts, picnics, New Year’s Eve events and more. A lively farmers market, annual festivals, a beach on Lake Winthrop, and historic baseball games means there’s something for everyone in every season!
