15 Best Things to Do in Millbury (MA)

Near the head of the Blackstone River Valley, the town was first settled by Europeans in the 18th century.

Millbury's modern story actually begins a century later with the Industrial Revolution. At this time, a cluster of textile mills sprung up along the Blackstone River and its tributaries, complementing the arms trade overseen by Asa Waters (1769-1841).

The magnificent Waters Federal Mansion, completed in 1832, is now owned by the city, and is the site of many events throughout the year.

Nearby, Millbury Center has independent restaurants, while Best Shops at Blackstone Valley is the largest outdoor shopping center in this part of the state.

1. Asa Waters Mansion

Millbury's pride and joy is this stately federal mansion, built for industrialist Asa Waters and his wife, Susan Homan Waters.

The architect was Asher Benjamin (1773-1845), whose career was marked by a transition between Federal architecture and New England Greek architecture.

Asa's Water Palace is three stories high, covered by a low balustrade and surmounted by magnificent fluted columns, two stories high and topped with composite capitals.

Home to the local historical society, it is an ideal venue for cultural gatherings such as exhibitions, concerts and seminars, and can also be rented for special events such as weddings.

If you're in town during the summer, you can catch the annual concert series here on Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can contact the Millbury Historical Society for a guided tour to learn about the interior.

2. Purgatory Chasm State Reservation

A few minutes from Millbury is a large cleft in the granite rock 70 feet deep and a quarter mile long.

Purgatory Chasm has been a state park for more than a century, and exploring it is a real adventure.

Trails lead you past strange formations, caves and ledges, and as long as conditions aren't slippery, you can spend an hour or two crawling along the canyon floor.

Some of the slopes have timeless names like The Corn Crib, The Coffin and Lovers' Leap, and after trekking these spots you can stop at a tree-shaded picnic area, backed by large slabs of granite.

3. Millbury Center

At the intersection of Main Street and Elm Street, Millbury's old downtown dining scene stands out.

Within a few square blocks you can find Greek (Mykonos Cafe & Bakery), Italian white tablecloth (Calabria), BBQ (The Coop Wings & BBQ), Chinese (Pearl Cafe II), Thai (Kai Mok), pizza and more.

We'll also talk about the beloved Elm Draught House Cinema and Penny Pinchers Brewing Co later in this list. Surrounded by historic 19th-century commercial venues, including the Romanesque Revival Cunningham Building from 1896 at 97 Elm Street.

Millbury's best-preserved mill village is also located in Bramanville, just a mile from the town centre, where you can see the prestigious Lapham Woolen Mill, constructed in 1879.

4. Elm Draught House Cinema

If you like your cinemas to have a little personality, you'll be happy with this second-run cinema at Millbury Centre.

The Elm Draught House Cinema is a single-screen theatre, with every third seat removed to provide a food and drink table. The house specialty is personal pizza, and there is a selection of beers on tap as well as wine.

The walls are decorated with quirky movie memorabilia, while the films themselves have recently been released. Check out the schedule of special events, weekly features, comedy shows and live broadcasts of New England Patriots games.

5. The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley

Located near the intersection of the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 146, Millbury is home to the largest open-air shopping mall in central Massachusetts.

The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley are divided between big-box stores like Michaels and PetSmart on one side, and mall-style retailers on the other.

At the time of writing, some of the chains include Barnes & Noble, LOFT, Sephora, Banana Republic Factory Store, Old Navy, Athleta, L.L. Bean, and Yankee Candle.

On the dining side, you'll find the likes of Red Robin, QDOBA, UNO Pizzeria and Grill, and the 14-screen Showcase Cinema De Luxe, which we'll talk about below.

6. Blackstone River Bikeway

Work continues on a 48-mile bike trail along the old route of the Blackstone Canal between Worcester and Providence. When we went to print, it was divided into a few sections, one from Worcester to Millbury.

This stretch is 2.5 miles long, and takes you from 205 N. Main Street near The Shoppes in Blackstone Valley to the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center in Worcester.

There are three parking lots along the way, and although you'll never feel too far from civilisation, there are plenty of scenic stretches of riverbanks and meadows, with plenty of nature viewing opportunities.

7. Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Further north in Millbury Center you can visit New England's largest wildlife refuge.

Over 430 acres, Broad Meadow Brook is managed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, with interpretive trails that wind through open fields, mature forests, marshes, and streams.

There are five miles in total, a sensory trail designed for all visitors, a mile-long round-trip hike with a rope and pole guiding system and 14 interpretive stations, available as an audio or Braille tour.

The butterfly garden here is a summer wonder, its many flowers providing brilliant color and providing shelter to 80 or more species of butterflies.

There is a wonderful nature playground for children, as well as a globally accessible nature center that hosts exhibits, and the reserve has many programs throughout the year.

8. Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center at Worcester

There is a visitor center for the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Trail at the beginning of the bike trail in Worcester.

Here, at the headwaters of the Blackstone River, you can get some context for the canal that formed in the first decades of the 19th century, and the textile industry simultaneously flourished in the heart of the American Industrial Revolution.

Interactive exhibits explain how the sleepy county seat became a lively center of commerce and industry, and friendly park rangers will fill you in on any details about the valley's history and nature.

The center is located in a stunning urban park, decorated with industrial-inspired art and complete with interpretive signage.

9. Penny Pinchers Brewing Company

Another of the many unique businesses worth exploring in downtown Millbury is Nano Brewery, which has a reputation for fun innovation.

Penny Pinchers Brewing Co. uses traditional recipes for all of its beers, from hoppy IPAs to porters, but always adds a little character.

This gives you the option of the Yard Sale Series, which includes beer mixed with raisins or sweet potatoes.

Operating on a small scale, the brewery is able to try out new lines every few days, so there should always be something new for you to taste every time you visit.

Thursdays are a casual night, and we encourage you to bring your own takeaway from the global Millbury restaurant group.

10. Singletary Pond

One of the most beautiful views of Millbury can be seen from the north shore of this grand 346-acre pond. Singletary Pond is located on the Millbury/Sutton city line, and its wide, wooded shores are lined with more than 160 lakefront homes.

But although almost the entire beach is private, the pond is a worthwhile recreational spot thanks to access to the public boat ramp at Millbury Beach to the north.

It has recently been equipped with a dock, and is popular for lake trout and bass fishing. On the southeast coast is Sutton Marion Campground, a beautiful recreational area with a beach, open to residents and non-residents from late June to late August.

11. Blackstone Valley 14 Cinema de Lux

In keeping with the upscale air of The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, the multiplex here is a luxury movie theater.

Under the same roof is a full-service restaurant and cocktail lounge, whether you want to grab a bite to eat or grab a bite before or after the movie.

For an amazing cinematic experience, try watching a show in the large-format Showcase XPlus Laser theater equipped with the latest screen and digital display technology.

All rooms have comfortable, fully reclining seating, available for a small additional fee.

12. Rocco’s Doughnut Company

There's a popular small chain of donut bakeries in the Worcester area that handcrafts huge but affordable donuts using old-school methods.

While Rocco’s Doughnut Company may be a relatively new company, it is steeped in the history of donut making. Rocco's is named after Rocco Astrella, who appears in the logo, and was owned by one of the first Dunkin' Donuts franchisees in the 1950s.

A multi-faceted company, Rocco’s Doughnut Company is the brainchild of Estrella's son, Joe, and honors his love of the craft.

This place is known for having classics like Chocolate Glazed Wright, while also serving innovative items like Fruit Pebbles, Pina Colada, and Chocolate Raspberry Truffle.

13. Stowe Farm

Located on 60 acres in West Millbury, this family-owned farm dates back six generations. Over time, Stowe Farm has transformed from a dairy farm into an equestrian farm and park, open to the public for a wide range of agritourism experiences.

The most anticipated time of year is fall, when you come to pick apples (9 varieties) and pumpkins.

Little ones will have a blast at the Kids Corral, which features barnyard animals, pony rides, a cow train, and a monster truck-themed playground. There's live music for adults, a barbecue truck, a country shop for pies, cider donuts, cider, and more.

14. Vaillancourt Folk Art

A family business based in Manchough Mills in Sutton in the 19th century, they specialize in high quality hand painted chalk jewellery.

For many, Vaillancourt Folk Art is synonymous with Christmas, and the store becomes a winter wonderland from early November.

Each year the decorations have a unique theme, and thousands of families come from all over the area. The annual tradition is the limited edition Starlight Santa, designed by co-founder Jodi Vaillancourt.

The design changes every Christmas and a portion of sales go to child-focused charities. The store has a museum displaying all previous Starlight Santas dating back to the company's founding in the mid-1980s.

15. Woolie World

At the end of Washington Street is a small park known for its accessible playground. In 2010, Woolie World - as it's known - was given a major update to bring it up to ADA standards.

It's a colorful and attractive environment, with interactive elements, a network of extensive slopes and a wealth of equipment to keep them active and entertained for as long as possible.

At the time of writing, the stadium had recently undergone another facelift, along with the adjacent Little League stadium.