The city of Waterbury in Connecticut is a quaint, beautiful city that houses a little over 100,000 inhabitants and is reputable for its serene neighborhoods. Waterbury is most famous for its enormous production of brass, earning its renowned nickname - The Brass City. This peaceful town is also famous for its production of the most exquisite timepieces which you can explore. If you are looking to have fun in Waterbury, there are so many things to do. You can learn about the city’s rich cultural heritage at the Mattatuck Museum or catch a mind-blowing performance at the renowned Place Theatre and more. In this piece, discover the captivating activities you can engage in, in The Brass City. On your next vacation or business trip, make the most of your time with these top things to do in Waterbury, Connecticut.
1. Experience the interactive exhibits at Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center
Posted by Mattatuck Museum on Monday, 27 June 2016
The infamous Mattatuck Museum features displays that show the beauty of the city’s rich history. Its collection depicts the city’s evergreen cultural heritage through intricately crafted pieces and numerous mundane articles. Beautiful, vintage pieces of art tell the story of the history of Waterbury through the works of some of the region’s most celebrated artists. The museum is also famous for its collection of about 15,000 buttons all collected from different areas of the world. Established since 1877, the vast architectural masterpiece has served as a home for Waterbury’s most exceptional pieces of history for 142 years.
Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center
Address: 63 Prospect St, Waterbury, CT 06702, USA
Website: Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
2. Go swimming at Hop Brook Lake
The expansive Hop Brook Lake spans three distinct regions in Connecticut: Naugatuck, Middlebury, and Waterbury. The lake has a recreation area that spans 21 stunning acres (8.5 hectares), and the maximum depth of the lake has been reported to be 18 feet (5.5 m). The Hop Brook Lake features amazing picnic sites, trails for hikers, a vast beach, a football field, and well-maintained sanitary facilities. There is also ample and secured parking space for all visitors, and security and safety personnel are always on ground to ensure the safety of lives and property on the Lake.
Hop Brook Lake
Address: Waterbury. CT
Website: Hop Brook Lake
3. Walk around Library Park
Waterbury’s Library Park offers beautiful scenery with lots of plants and an overall relaxing, natural feel. The park is situated in a soft stretch of land behind the Bronson Silas Library, next to the City Hall. You will love to spend some time in the enormous shades due to the presence of huge trees. The unique seating areas and the well-tended walkways also make Library Park a real natural treasure. The scenery provided by the mix of nature and the unique architecture of the surrounding buildings all come together to make the park an ideal recreational destination.
Library Park
Address: Waterbury, CT 06702, USA
Opening hours: 6am - 9pm (daily)
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4. Try skating at Roller Magic Waterbury Skating Center
Roller Magic Waterbury’s Skating Center is a safe and secure sporting facility that promises immense fun and adventure. The skating center is equipped with a standard wooden roller-skating rink where you can delightfully skate for as long as you wish. There is a standby DJ churning out amazing tunes to keep visitors entertained. There is also a quaint snack bar that serves fantastic food and drinks when you feel like taking a little break from skating. This center also features safe, standard roller skates available for rent so don’t fret if you don’t have your own skateboard.
Roller Magic Waterbury Skating Center
Address: 60 Harvester Rd, Waterbury, CT 06705, USA
Website: Roller Magic Waterbury Skating Center
Opening hours: Sat: 1pm - 4pm, 7:30pm - 11:30pm; Sun: 1pm - 4pm; Mon: 7:30pm - 10pm; Tue: 10am - 2pm; Wed: 10am - 2pm, 6pm - 9pm; Thu: 10am - 2pm; Fri: 10am - 3pm, 6:30pm - 10:30pm
Price: from 7.5 USD
5. Go on a shopping spree at Brass Mill Center
Posted by Brass Mill Center on Friday, 12 July 2019
Waterbury’s Brass Mill Center is a state-of-the-art shopping mall, the largest in the state and a favorite shopping hub for tourist and locals alike. This center offers an excellent opportunity for you to unwind with family and friends, or even by yourself while purchasing a variety of items and souvenirs at great prices. The Brass Mill Center is quite extensive and spacious and has over 130 shops selling a wide range of consumer goods. There is an ample, secure parking space for your vehicle. The mall’s restaurants offer amazing dishes and drinks you can savor at affordable prices.
Brass Mill Center
Address: 495 Union St, Waterbury, CT 06706, USA
Website: Brass Mill Center
Opening hours: Sun: 12pm - 6pm; Mon - Sat: 10am - 9pm
6. Catch a show at Palace Theater
Waterbury’s Palace Theater is every theatre lover’s dream! It comprises of a unique Renaissance Revival-style structure which incorporates a unique blend of Federal, Arabic, Roman, and Greek Motifs. The eye-catching ornate dome ceilings and large lobby areas will get you reeling with nostalgia. Diverse concerts and performances are held regularly so there’s always a show for everyone. Palace Theater serves as a historic landmark, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Waterbury. The performances featured at Palace Theater include musicals, comedy, and drama.
Palace Theater
Address: 100 E Main St, Waterbury, CT 06702, USA
Website: Palace Theater
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat: 10am - 2pm (closed on Sun)
7. Watch a game at Municipal Stadium
Municipal Stadium is a fascinating historical site featuring rich sporting history dating back almost a decade. You can unwind by watching amazing baseball and football games from the comfortable seats at your leisure. The Municipal Stadium is also surreally beautiful so it’s a great place to take a couple of pictures to remember Waterbury by. Municipal Stadium also presents a fantastic opportunity for you to meet fellow sports lovers and forge lasting friendships.
Municipal Stadium
Address: 1200 Watertown Ave, Waterbury, CT 06708, USA
Website: Municipal Stadium
Price: 5 - 9 USD
8. Take a chocolate tour at Fascia's Chocolates
Posted by Fascia’s Chocolates on Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Fascia’s Chocolates at 44, Chase River Road is a real foodie’s paradise. The chocolate shop offers the most delectable chocolate options for your delight. You can walk around and marvel at the diverse chocolate options and flavors of handmade cakes, gelato, and chocolates. You can even put your chocolate making skills to the test by participating in some of the chocolate crafting sessions. Eating chocolate is fun, but watching it being made a unique way it’s crafted at Fascia’s is alluring.
Fascia's Chocolates
Address: 44 Chase River Rd, Waterbury, CT 06704, USA
Website: Fascia’s Chocolates
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon & Sun)
9. Explore the anicent buildings at Bank Street Historic District
Posted by Paolino Roofing on Wednesday, 8 May 2019
The old buildings that line the infamous Bank Street Historic District are indeed a marvel to behold. The four old masterpieces are all at least four stories high. While three of the buildings are faced in brick, one is faced in brownstones. The glass storefronts that adorn the bases of the buildings at the street level are a sight to behold. The small trees planted at intervals along the sidewalk adds to the allure of the buildings. The four old buildings in the district occupy 0.1 hectares (0.25 acres), and they stand out superbly against the surrounding urban landscape.
Bank Street Historic District
Address: Waterbury, Connecticut
Website: Bank Street Historic District
10. Relax with a game of bowling at Lakewood Lanes
What better way to enjoy a free day or unwind after a long day than a thrilling game of bowling? Test your bowling skills while having immense fun at the Lakewood Lanes bowling alley. The bowling alley also offers fantastic food such as pizza and a refreshing range of drinks. The bowling alley is a great place to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and you can even join a bowling league and create fantastic memories with friends.
Lakewood Lanes
Address: 694 Lakewood Rd, Waterbury, CT 06704, USA
Website: Lakewood Lanes
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 2pm - 12am; Fri - Sat: 2pm - 2am; Sun: 2pm - 11pm
11. Take a photo with the Christopher Columbus Statue
Columbus Day reminds us that innovation requires nerves of steel: “One does not discover new lands without consenting...
Posted by Waterbury Public Art Committee on Friday, 5 October 2018
Christopher Columbus is undoubtedly one of the most renowned explorers in history. This fact is reflected by a plethora of his statues present at different locations all over the world. Frank Chalfant Grayford created this magnificent granite statue in 1984. The statue has since then been one of Waterbury’s most notable historical landmarks. The figure is located in a serene environment and features the explorer standing in front of a pair of posts and a coil of rope, appearing to be sailing.
Christopher Columbus Statue
Address: 235 Grand St Waterbury, CT 06706
12. Get a cone from Carvel Ice Cream
When it comes to making mind-blowing ice cream, Carvel Ice Cream is in a class apart. You can relish different varieties of affordable ice cream available in different flavors. The ice cream is soft and there is also a wide range of toppings for your delight. The shop also provides shakes and sandwiches to help you have the perfect meal. Tasty ice cream cakes are also available for sale at the shop. Carvel Ice Cream prides itself in using fresh ingredients all the time so all its products are of optimum quality.
Carvel Ice Cream
Address: 700 Watertown Ave, Waterbury, CT 06708, USA
Website: Carvel Ice Cream
Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 10:30am - 10:30pm; Sun - Tue: 10:30am - 10pm; Wed: 10:30am - 10:30pm; Thu: 10:30am - 10pm
13. Enjoy a performance at Seven Angels Theatre
Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury has been offering mind-blowing performances to residents and visitors in Waterbury for almost 20 years. The theatre is big and comfortable and features a delightfully wide variety of shows from musicals to dramas and comedies. The theatre performances are all done by experienced casts. Also, healthy and delicious snacks are sold should you ever feel hungry before or during a performance. The seats are plush and convenient, too, and you are assured of a great experience.
Seven Angels Theatre
Address: 1 Plank Rd, Waterbury, CT 06705, USA
Website: Seven Angels Theatre
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 12pm - 5pm; Thu: 12pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 10pm
14. Tour the historic Union Station
Posted by Ernest Legassey on Thursday, 25 April 2019
The Seth Thomas Company built the Union Station in the first decade of the 20th century. This fascinating piece of history represents one of the most exceptional periods of America as a country of infinite possibilities. The vintage building, with its incredible clock tower, will get you reeling with nostalgia with its captivating ambiance. The building was built initially to serve as a rail station, and in its heyday, it handled up to 66 trains daily. The Union Station is now used as the site of Waterbury’s daily newspaper and is a beauty to behold.
Union Station
Address: Waterbury, Connecticut
Website: Union Station
15. Pay tribute at Harrub Pilgrim Memorial
*Famous Waterbury Landmarks* Harrub Pilgrim Memorial* - The 175 ton, 60-foot-long, 24-foot-high monument with...
Posted by Courtyard by Marriott Waterbury Downtown on Monday, 4 December 2017
Revel in nostalgia on your visit to the Harrub Pilgrim Memorial, one of the city’s famous attractions. Constructed in 1930, this magnificent structure weighs 175 tons (177.8 tonnes) and it is 18.3 meters (60 feet) long. It was made entirely out of French granite and was the brainchild of Charles Harrub, an engineer. He worked with the American Brass Company and erected the structure to honor his wife and the pilgrims. The memorial serves as a historic site and is a representation of Waterbury’s rich cultural heritage.
Harrub Pilgrim Memorial
Address: Waterbury, Connecticut
16. Enjoy wood-fired oven pizzas at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
The magnificent Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana offers pizzas that are indeed one of a kind - wood-fired oven pizzas. If you are a fan of pizza, you should not miss tasting the wood-fired oven pizza. These pizzas have a delectable, different taste from your everyday pizzas. The staff at the Frank Pepe Pizzeria are warm, and the service is marvelous. Along with the fantastic taste of the pizza, the pizzeria also has a great traditional ambiance. The eye-catching decorations strike you the moment you walk in and continue to captivate you as you relish your pizza.
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
Address: 130 Reidville Dr, Waterbury, CT 06705, USA
Website: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)
Price: 11 - 30 USD
17. Stroll leisurely at Waterbury Green
Happy 4th of July everyone! Have you ever wondered about the Soldiers Monument? Sculpted by former Waterbury resident...
Posted by Neil O'Leary on Thursday, 4 July 2019
The incredible Waterbury Green is a quaint little paradise. With its lush green lawns which have earned it its famous name, the breathtaking scenery and the comfortable park benches, this park is a fantastic choice for a simple evening stroll or a romantic picnic. Waterbury Green also offers huge trees that not only add to the beauty to the park but also offer cool shades for visitors. The park is also silent, making it a perfect place to read a good book or meditate.
Waterbury Green
Address: Waterbury, CT 06702, USA
Website: Waterbury Green
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
18. Enjoy biking at Washington Park
Posted by Geraldo Reyes on Saturday, 13 July 2019
Bring back the childhood memories of cycling by riding around the beautiful Washington Park in Waterbury. The fantastic park has magnificent scenery because of the plethora of beautiful trees and hedges. The park also features comfortable benches where you can relax and unwind. Washington Park is also well-maintained and secure. Relaxing shades are also provided by the variety of trees in the park, making it a perfect spot to unwind.
Washington Park
Address: 283 Sylvan Ave, Waterbury, CT 06706, USA
Website: Washington Park
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 24 hours (closed on Sun)
19. Stroll through Fulton Park
There are not a lot of places in the United States that have the special fascinating kind of appeal that Waterbury’s Fulton Park possesses. With the charming landscape and the alluring environment, you would find yourself drawn to the incredible beauty of nature that abounds in this park. Apart from just the beautiful scenery, the park is also usually silent, making it a great place to relax. The park is safe for visitors of all ages, and the shade provided by the enormous trees offer ideal spots to hang out with friends on a lovely evening.
Fulton Park
Address: Cooke St, Waterbury, CT 06704, USA
Website: Fulton Park
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
20. Listen to jazz at Shamrock Pub and Grill
Get ready to have the musical experience of your life at the Shamrock Pub and Grill. With fantastic jazz music and a fabulous ambiance, this pub is a rare gem. The food and drinks are incredibly delectable, and there is a wide array of incredible dishes for you to choose from. The music is merely fascinating, too. If you are a big fan of jazz music, you will find yourself dancing to the appealing rhythm of the music in no time. The Shamrock Pub and Grill is well-patronized so the chances are high that you would have made a friend or two by the time you walk out of the door! Go enjoy the best of American and Irish pub grub, live music, and different draft beers.
Shamrock Pub and Grill
Address: 210 Meadow St, Waterbury, CT 06702, USA
Website: Shamrock Pub and Grill
Opening hours: Sun: 11am - 12am; Wed - Thu: 11am - 1am; Fri - Sat: 11am - 2am (closed on Mon & Tue)
21. Have Italian food at Diorio Restaurant & Bar
Diorio is one of Waterbury’s most incredible Italian restaurants and it has an impressive reputation that always precedes it. The quaint restaurant serves a variety of mouthwatering Italian dishes and exotic drinks from its marble bar. With its incredible menu and the cozy atmosphere, the Diorio Restaurant & Bar is the best place to dine after a long day. Catch a nice meal, hang out with friends or even surprise a loved one. The acid-etched mirrors showing historical Waterbury, tin ceiling, and the large mahogany bankers booths that adorn this restaurant are also a sight to behold.
Diorio Restaurant & Bar
Address: 231 Bank St, Waterbury, CT 06702, USA
Website: Diorio Restaurant & Bar
Opening hours: Sat: 5pm - 9:30pm; Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm (closed on Sun)
Create fantastic memories in Waterbury
Waterbury is a beautiful city with an attraction for everyone. Whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, the fantastic opportunities to have immense fun and create unforgettable memories are satisfyingly numerous. You can indulge in the relaxing serenity of the parks and resorts, try out the restaurants and bars, and buy several items and souvenirs at unbeatable prices. Get ready to have fun, as you try out some of these beautiful things to do in Waterbury, Connecticut.
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