Free
Worcester Public Library, Main Library
Downtown, 3 Salem Sq.
Free storytimes, baby programs and concerts nearly every day.
Good for: A free morning out.
Skip if: you want a big play area.
Report a problemGUIDE Worcester · The Heart of the Commonwealth
Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Worcester: the parent guide.
Worcester sits in the middle of Massachusetts, about an hour west of Boston.
Around town4 spots · checked Oct 30
The Worcester places we go back to, again and again.
The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Play
Indoor play and rainy days
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Worcester that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Splash & ride
Parks and outdoor play
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
West Side, 121 Russell St.Free
Elm Park
A historic city park with a playground, picnic area and ponds that freeze for skating in winter.
Good for: A free outdoor hour.
Skip if: it is cold and wet.
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Worcester that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore
Museums, zoos and big outings
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
EcoTarium
$$Worcester, 222 Harrington Way
A science and nature museum with indoor exhibits, outdoor animal habitats and a planetarium.
Good for: Preschoolers who like animals.
Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s closed.
Tue–Sun 10am–5pm (tickets until 4)Site ↗ for EcoTarium
Report a problemWorcester Art Museum
$$Worcester, 55 Salisbury St.
A big art museum where kids 17 and under get in free.
Good for: A quiet morning with a stroller.
Skip if: you need somewhere loud.
Wed–Sun 10am–4pmSite ↗ for Worcester Art Museum
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Worcester that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
No ticket needed
Free things to do
Where a family can go in Worcester without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Worcester.
Littlest explorers
Best for under 3s
Free or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Every week
Library storytimes
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Worcester.
Daily at the main libraryWorcester Public Library
Storytimes, Baby Bounce, Toddler Time and weekend concerts.
Schedule ↗Babies and 1-year-olds
Things to do with a baby or a 1-year-old in Worcester
Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Baby and lap-sit storytimes
Friday, Nov 6 at 10am · Main LibraryBaby Bounce · Worcester Public Library
Rhymes and bounces for babies up to 18 months. Check the calendar for later dates.
Storytime calendar ↗By season
Seasonal spots
Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices.
This week
What’s on this week in Worcester
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Worcester right now.
- Haunted House Crafts and PlayWorcester Public Library, Main Library · Free
- Autumn Adventures WeekendEcoTarium · Included with admission
- Baby BounceWorcester Public Library, Main Library · Free
Good questions
Things to do with toddlers in Worcester: the FAQ
Is Worcester good for toddlers?
Yes. The main library has a program almost every day, and the EcoTarium has a drop-in station for its youngest visitors.
What’s free for little kids here?
Library programs, and the Art Museum for anyone 17 and under.
What can we do in Worcester on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: Worcester Public Library, Main Library. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
What can we do with a baby, 1-year-old or 2-year-old in Worcester?
EcoTarium: Animals and a tots’ station. Elm Park: Playground and flat paths around the pond. Worcester Public Library, Main Library is also easy with a baby or toddler. See best for under 3s.
Where are the free storytimes in Worcester?
Worcester Public Library: Daily at the main library. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Worcester weekly list.
How do you choose the places in the Worcester guide?
Every one of the 4 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site. The guide was last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we choose and check.
Get the list every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Worcester.