From the annual Santa crawl in the Canal District to shows by Riff-Raff and Chuck and Mud (with Walter Crockett) and a Latin-inspired fundraiser for a unitarian church to a paint night (with wine), it’s another packed weekend in the Woo
Here are the Worcester Guardian’s five picks for things to do in Worcester this weekend:
- Songs, stories & a little Mud magic: Chuck & Mud team up with Walter Crockett and Peter Allard for a one-night-only Frontroom show celebrating original tunes, WCUW Community Radio and Mud’s latest turn around the sun. Expect warm harmonies, lived-in lyrics and an easygoing vibe that feels tailor-made for a December night. The show is Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. (doors at 6:30). Tickets are $15 cash/Venmo at the door or $17.85 in advance on Eventbrite. The WCUW Frontroom is at 910 Main St. in Worcester, with parking across the street in the Clark lot. Light snacks available, or grab something next door from Fantastic Pizza or Grub Guru.
- Club hopping with sleigh bells and a purpose: The Canal District Alliance brings back its Santa Crawl on Saturday, Dec. 13, turning the neighborhood into a walking holiday party — all to support CASA Project Worcester County and its work advocating for vulnerable children. The festivities kick off at 1 p.m. with a welcome party featuring snacks, live music, raffles, and enough dancing to keep even the Grinchiest Grinch in motion. Crawlers then fan out to participating bars and restaurants before regrouping for an after-party to wrap the day. Festive attire is not only encouraged but might just win you the costume contest.
- Rock ’n’ roll without the frostbite: Riff-Raff brings its guitar-forward classic-rock mix to the Worcester MCL on Lake Ave. Saturday, Dec. 14, for a night of hits, deep cuts and plenty of ’60s–’80s swagger. The four-piece—Jim Provencher, Ed Fortier, Scott Mitti and Pat McGreal—has decades of Worcester music mileage and a reputation for turning familiar favorites into full-throttle crowd-pleasers. The show kicks off at 8 p.m., safely indoors where the only thing icy will be the drinks.
- Snowman, sip, repeat: On Friday, Dec. 12, paint nite returns to NU Kitchen on Chandler Street, where instructor Avni Chheda will walk you through creating cheerful snowman-themed wine glasses — no experience needed, just a willingness to wield a paintbrush after a beverage or two. Expect good snacks, good company, and a reliably fun weeknight escape. The session runs 6–8 p.m.; tickets are $46.
- Bright nights, bold moves: JMAC turns up the glow on Saturday, Dec. 13, with a gala that blends jazz, Latin flair, and a whole lot of Worcester community spirit. From wine tasting with sommelier Missa Capozzo and tapas by CharCUTErie Woo to Latin dance lessons with instructor Laura Leones, the evening warms up fast before Clave and Blues take over the BrickBox Theatre for a full-on dance party. Tickets range from $80 to $150, with proceeds supporting the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester’s community resource efforts. Semi-formal attire, but maximum sparkle encouraged.
For more events, visit the Discover Central Massachusetts events calendar.
Have an event, news tip, information, joke, favorite recipe or anything else you’d like to tell us about? You should. Contact carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
