Somerville Menorah Lighting Date Changed to 12/12

Update: Due to forecasted inclement weather on Sunday, December 10, the City of Somerville's 2023 Menorah Lighting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, December 12, at 6 p.m at City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave).
 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council (SAC) warmly invite the Somerville community to join in the City’s 2023 holiday celebrations. The City will illuminate City Hall concourse with festive Christmas tree and menorah lighting events that will include snacks, refreshments, entertainment and gifts for children. 

The community is also invited to see the creativity and holiday lights of their neighbors by embarking on either a self-guided or Arts Council-led Illuminations Tour. More details about each event are available below.

Holiday Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa Visit

We’ll kick off on Thursday, December 8, with the Holiday Christmas Tree Lighting on the City Hall Concourse, followed by a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Cafeteria. All children who attend will receive a special gift from Santa and will have an opportunity to take a photo with Old St. Nick. Activities begin at 5:00 p.m. with live entertainment prior to the official lighting of the City Hall Concourse and Christmas trees. Santa Claus will, as always, be escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police Departments making his grand entrance atop a shiny red fire truck. This year, there will not only be one Christmas Tree lit up, there will be a family of trees. In addition to a lovely fresh-cut tree, for the first time, the City is also lighting up and decorating a stand of six living pines on the City Concourse as well, and Mayor Ballantyne will share at the event that in the spring, we will be planting the City's first-ever living permanent Christmas tree that will grow over time with the City. Light refreshments will be served. 

Menorah Lighting (rescheduled from December 10)

• Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023
• Start Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave)
   

Illuminations Tour
Don your bike helmet for Somerville’s interactive Illuminations extravaganza!

Dates: 

• December 9, 2023-January 2024: Illuminations map available to take a self guided tour
• December 16, 2023: SAC Illuminations Bike Tour (rain date December 17)
  • Location: Somerville High School main entrance (81 Highland Ave)
  • Time: 5:45 p.m. (departure at 6 p.m.) 
    
     

For more information on the City’s holiday events, please call 311 (617-666-3311 from outside the City). For more information on the Arts Council Illuminations Tour, please email Iaritza Menjivar at imenjivar@somervillema.gov

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov. 

These events will be videotaped by the City’s GovTV team. Watch it on-demand with optional closed-captioning (select the CC icon) on YouTube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Or watch on cable TV at GovTV Comcast Ch. 22 and GovTV Astound (RCN) Ch. 13 & 613. Videos generally post within one business day of recording.