By Cathleen Twardzik

Somerville Avenue will be transformed into Pumpkinville Avenue soon.  Behold it with your own eyes at SomerStreets’ last event of the year.

“We want to end the season with a bang. I encourage all community members to help us turn Somerville Ave. into Pumpkinville Ave. by carving or decorating a pumpkin, which we will use to line the entire street – from Union Square to Porter Square. Along with many live music acts, family-friendly and dog-friendly activities, this event is going to be one of our best fall events to date,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

Further, “Lining the street with pumpkins will help create the fall festival feel, as well as direct attendees along the entire route,” said Jackie Rossetti, Deputy Director of Communications for the City of Somerville.

The festivities will occur on Sunday, October 24 from noon to 4 p.m. and will include a pumpkin-lined Somerville Avenue, as well as a costume parade to kick off the afternoon.

“Somerville’s [SomerStreets] program began in May 2010, with an event along Shore Drive and the Mystic River Reservation,” said Rossetti.

“The program was started to complement our commitment to Shape Up Somerville and promoting active living.  It was based on the “Open Streets Initiative,” which began in Bogota, Columbia.”

Residents are invited to come in costume for the fall festival, a costume contest for people, as well as pets, will be held.

“Many local businesses have signed on to participate,” said Rossetti.  Those businesses will either “decorate their storefronts and/or participating in our “Safe Trick or Treating” event for kids.”  At others, food, drinks, or stores’ goods in the street will be accessible.

Decorated pumpkins may be brought to each Somerville Public Elementary School at student drop off and pick up times, from Oct. 20 to Oct. 22.

City Hall will be accepting pumpkins on the following dates and times: October 20 and October, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as on October 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on October 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.