The holidays will come a little early to Somerville once again this year, with several celebrations planned throughout the month of December including the annual tree and Menorah lighting at City Hall, the Arts Council’s Illuminations Tour, and a first-ever “Holiday Arts and Eats” Festival at Assembly Row, sponsored by Federal Realty Investment Trust.

The city’s annual Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony will take place Thursday, Dec. 5 on the City Hall Concourse, followed by a meet and greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Highlander Café (atrium entrance). On Saturday, Dec. 14, residents and visitors are invited to the Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations beginning at 4:30pm.  The popular tour takes attendees aboard trolleys across the city to discover some of the most brightly decorated homes throughout the city for the holiday season. Residents interested in having their homes featured on the tour should contact the Somerville Arts Council at 617-625-6600 ext 2985 by Friday, Dec. 6.

The tree lighting ceremony will feature musical entertainment by: The Somerville High School Band and Orchestra; the Somerville Community Chorus; El Sistema Somerville; and grade four students from the Arthur D. Healey Elementary School. Special guest Santa Claus will be escorted by the Somerville Fire Department for the ceremony and will be available for photos following the tree lighting. All children attending the ceremony will also receive a gift from Santa.

The annual Illuminations Trolley Tour of East and Central Somerville is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, with tours departing from the City Hall Concourse beginning at 4:30 p.m. The 45-minute tours will showcase holiday light displays in our own Somerville. Tours leave from (and return to) Somerville City Hall where coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies are served. Entertainment at City Hall includes choral music and craft activities for children.

Trolley Tour tickets will be available at the Blue Cloud Gallery, 713 Broadway, beginning Monday, Dec. 2. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and seniors. For more information, visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org.

Adding to the holiday fun in Somerville this year, the City of Somerville will join Federal Realty Investment Trust for its first annual Holiday Arts and Eats Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6, 7, and 8. The festival will feature food trucks, a large holiday market including 60 artists, a 21+ event on Friday night and family-friendly activities and live music all weekend long. It will be hosted under a large heated tent at Assembly Row. For more information and schedules, visit www.assemblyrow.com/events .

For more information on the city’s holiday events, please contact Nancy Aylward at 617-625-6600 ext 2100.