Discover Leicester

Explore Leicester through several distinct themes: a large park with woods and trails, a recreational activity in Towtaid Park, and historical collections and guided tours. There is also the Leicester Harvest Fair, a recurring event in September. When planning your trip, you can decide whether nature, local history, or an event should shape your stay.

Parks and Nature in Leicester

Burncoat Park covers 115 acres and is owned by the Town of Leicester; it is overseen by the Conservation Commission. A large wooded area with trails defines the park. Ownership and oversight refer to two different aspects: the town owns the park, while the commission is responsible for it. If you want to consider a wooded park with trails when choosing your destination, you’ll find a clear focus on nature here.

The protected status of a natural area is also part of Leicester’s appeal: all of Burncoat Pond lies within an NHESP Priority Habitat. As a result, the beach area has protected status under Massachusetts regulations. The protection classification applies to the habitat and the beach area.

Recreation in Towtaid Park

Towtaid Park is in the Cherry Valley neighborhood, at Church Street and Towtaid Street, off Route 9/Main Street. An introduction to one-wall handball is offered there. This gives the park a different focus from Burncoat Park: while woods and trails define the latter, a specific sport is at the heart of Towtaid Park. The neighborhood and street names also help you locate the park within Leicester.

Local History and Guided Tours

The Leicester Public Library’s Local History Museum is on the library’s second floor. It collects, preserves, and displays objects related to Leicester’s history and heritage. The Leicester Public Library is also an outstanding example of Classical Revival architecture. Two cultural aspects come together here: the local history collection and the architecture of the library building.

The Swan Tavern-Leicester Historical Museum is Leicester’s official historical museum and community center. The May House in Leicester is a designated site in the Network to Freedom program. Both names add distinct points of interest to the library’s history, without being part of the same institution.

The Leicester Historical Commission organizes guided tours in the villages and at various locations throughout Leicester. These tours differ from the collection in the library museum: they take you through villages and to multiple sites, rather than focusing on objects in one place. This gives you a choice when planning your trip between exploring historical objects and taking guided tours around Leicester.

Leicester Harvest Fair

The Leicester Harvest Fair takes place on the third Saturday in September at Leicester Town Common. The event is sponsored by the Leicester Arts Council. This gives you a clear reference point for timing your trip: if you’re traveling specifically for the fair, check the date for your chosen year before booking your stay. The event date is a different consideration from a visit focused on parks or local history.

Discover more destinations: Bolton, Grafton, Devens, Auburn, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Ashburnham, Uxbridge

For the broader travel overview: Worcester.