Welcome,
tour groups, corporations,
companies and organizations!
Dear Friends;
We invite you to consider The
Harding Allen Estate for your next function,
corporate event, or getaway. We can provide a
lovely brunch, lunch or dinner for groups large
and small, from 25 to 275 guests.
About the
Estate
The Harding Allen Estate is a
stately neo-classical mansion, built in the 1920s
as a private home for local industrialist and
philanthropist Harding Allen. The interior is
replete with the work of fine Italian craftsmen:
marble work, crystal chandeliers, wood carvings,
ornate ceilings and European detailing. We now
have a permanent banquet ballroom, which can host
large parties all year long.
About our
Luncheons
We are proud to introduce our Four
Seasons Garden Luncheon menus, which
you’ll find at this link.
The menus are custom-designed for each season, so
you’ll have a distinctive experience whether
you’re here to enjoy our walled English
gardens in bloom in the spring or the spectacular
foliage in the fall. Christmas at the Estate is a
particularly picturesque time, as we dress the
mansion in all of its holiday grandeur, with a
wide array of ornaments on offer throughout the
mansion.
If you’re looking for
lighter fare, we suggest our Morning Glory
Collection, consisting of crumpets, finger
sandwiches, small pastries, deviled eggs, and an
assortment of breads, bagels, jellies and teas.
It’s the perfect way to start off a business
meeting or corporate event. The price is $13.95
per person, plus 18% administrative fee and 6.25%
MA state meals tax. We have other options, as
well: we can supplement the Morning Glory
Collection with soup and sandwiches or a formal
lunch later in the day, or we can provide a full
hot breakfast.
A 20-minute guided tour of the
Estate and grounds is available to accompany your
meal. We an also help you organize many forms of
musical entertainment, from classical ensembles
to jazz trios, as we have an extensive list of
musicians who work with us during our wedding
season. We can put you in touch with a Frank
Sinatra impersonator, or offer you how-to classes
in relaxation, belly dancing, or ballroom
demonstrations. We also have a DJ who can
entertain you with a selection of 1940s big band
and swing music.
About the
Town of Barre
The Harding Allen Estate is
nestled in the quaint and pristine town of Barre,
in the heart of central Massachusetts, just 25
minutes away from Worcester.
Barre has a rich history. It is
home to one of the oldest stagecoaches in
America, the Concord Coach; only one other coach,
owned by the Gene Autry Museum, is as
well-preserved. (You can see it on display at our
Historical Society, which also houses many other treasures
from the past.)
The Barre Theater
hosts a play for each season, and is in walking
distance of the Estate. It may be possible to
arrange a presentation during the week.
For shopping, visitors can
browse an extensive selection of gifts at our
lovely Village Common Gift Shop, or go back in
time to Cat Alley Antiques. Nearby, the North Brookfield Orchard is an excellent destination for the
fall season, with their home-grown apples, fresh
pies and cider, jams and jellies, and gift shop.
If you’d like to hold a
religious-themed event, you could make a visit to
the Ten Commandments Cross, a local landmark. A Barre resident was
inspired to have it painted on a 25’ x
40’ pad of concrete on his lawn, and
he’s always delighted to tell people the
story behind it. The Cross makes a lovely
addition to a Christmas, Passover or Easter tour,
weather permitting.
We look forward to hosting your
group or organization. Please don’t hesitate
to call or e-mail for more information. We can
often custom-design a menu or program to fit your
budget guidelines.
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