On the first weekend in May, over 400 Somerville artists will open their doors and invite the public into their studios for one of the largest single-weekend open studio events in the nation.

Now in its 16th year, the weekend continues to grow throughout the city, drawing in scores of local businesses and becoming a festive destination. In the US, only New York has more artists per capita than the City of Somerville.

During SOS, artists will open in every kind of working space, showcasing every kind of visual media. Throughout the city a visitor can see glass-blowers, jewelers, sculptors, digitally-based and interactive media artists, painters, photographers, weavers, printmakers, furniture makers, fashion designers, and artists whose media are too new to even have a name.

Historic, converted industrial spaces such as Vernon Street and Joy Street hold more than 100 artists each; mid-sized buildings such as Mad Oyster Studios, Washington Street Art Center, Central Street, and others count their numbers in the dozens and often mount small group shows inside their buildings; Somerville’s Artisan’s Asylum is one of the largest maker spaces in the country.

Not to be forgotten or overlooked, many visitors thrill to see how the scores of independent artists who make their studios in their homes integrate domestic and artistic lives into one. Somerville Open Studios is the only opportunity to get an intimate glimpse into some of these more private artist lives in what becomes equal parts Open Studios and home show.

For Somerville artists without space to open to the public, SOS offers a Community Space at Arts at the Armory. The Cafe at the Armory will also house a Kid’s Art show for Somerville’s smallest future artists.

The weekend features:

• Free trolleys to transport visitors from one neighborhood to the next (Sat & Sun)

• Mapbooks available at artist-made stands throughout the city

• Information kiosks located in both Davis and Union Squares

• Orange balloons mark artist sites

• Free, no-hassle parking in several city lots: leave your car and ride the free Trolley; City resident parking restrictions will also be lifted for this event

• Some sites and one trolley will be handicapped accessible. Please check mapbook for details.

The Volunteer Exhibit at BLOC 11 Café, 11 Bow Street, Union Square, runs through May 17. Art by SOS volunteers who have contributed time and effort in organizing Somerville Open Studios in the past and present.

The Artist’s Choice Exhibit  at the Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Rd. runs through May 10, it is n is it  a group exhibit of SOS participants to help art lovers plan their studio visits.

SOS Beyond the Pattern Fashion Show Arts will be at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Thursday, May 1. Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., featuring a live runway presentation showcasing the dazzlingly diverse work of local artists in fashion and wearable art.

For more information please see www.somervilleopenstudios.org.