The 2020 Illuminations Tour, organized by the Somerville Arts Council, is providing a map for those who would like to partake of the festive sights throughout the city. — Photos by Hongyu Liu

By Hongyu Liu

Somerville households have lit up their front yards with festive decorations in celebration of the holidays and to take part in the 2020 Illuminations Tour.

On December 12, the Somerville Arts Council published a google map that includes all the households, local businesses, and organizations participating in the tour by decorating their buildings with lightings and handicrafts. The map can be found online at https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1-mfd2ZVrCwlOFgjXIbI3O487SVoT9z3j&ll=42.39130156129693%2C-71.1046092&z=14.

In the past, the Council used trolley buses taking people on 45-minutes tours of the decorated homes in Somerville. Due to the pandemic, residents and visitors are expected to conduct self-guided tours this year, using the map as a reference.

More than a hundred households and 59 local businesses have signed up for this event.

All of the houses are surrounded by bright, colorful lights. Many of them include figures depicting reindeer, angels, elves or Santa Clause to highlight the festive theme.

Many participants chose lanterns as their means of decoration. They drew patterns representing Christmas like pine trees, snowflakes, and candles on the lanterns. Some decided to line the lanterns along their doorsteps.

Liza Kitchell, a musician living in Somerville, held a mini music festival outside her house on the evening of December 13. She brought out her electronic keyboard, as well as her bedroom light, to perform Christmas songs with her friend Mark Chenevert, who played saxophone.

“These songs, you only do them at this time of the year,” Kitchell said. “And everybody knows them, which brings us together.”

Her performance attracted passers-by, some of whom stopped and listened on the other side of the street, maintaining distance from one another.

Along with these households, Somerville City Hall hangs a Christmas wreath over its main gate. The building is currently closed due to the pandemic.

Iaritza Menjivar, the Event and Public Art coordinator for the Somerville Arts Council, hopes that the tour can also “bring some foot traffic to the businesses.” Local shops have decorated their entrances and windows with Christmas-themed ornaments. New restaurant restrictions took effect on December 13, which placed further limitations on restaurant dining.

The Arts Council is also preparing a Podcast Tour. It will include 18 destinations, offering an alternative to the self-guided tour.

Residents can visit the places marked in the map any time before January 1, 2021.