The annual Christmas Tree lighting will start the holiday festivities on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 5:30 p.m., followed by a meet and greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Highlander Café (atrium entrance). Santa Claus will be escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police Departments 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. Live entertainment for the event will feature: the Somerville High School Band, Orchestra, and Chorus; the Somerville Community Chorus; and El Sistema Somerville. Refreshments will be served at SHS.

A ceremonial Menorah Lighting will take place on Sunday, Dec. 6 at sundown. All members of the community are invited to join Mayor Curtatone and City staff for a brief ceremony and photo on the City Hall Concourse. The Menorah will be lit each night of Hanukkah.

On Saturday, Dec. 19, residents and visitors are invited to the Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations beginning at 4:30 p.m. 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. Tours depart from the City Hall Concourse every 45 minutes. Refreshments, choral music and craft activities will be available inside City Hall. Residents interested in having their homes featured on the tour should contact the Somerville Arts Council at 617-625-6600 ext 2985 by December 8th.

Trolley Tour tickets will be available at the Blue Cloud Gallery, 713 Broadway, beginning Sunday, Dec. 6. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and seniors. For more information, visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org.

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

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Betsy Allen, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or BAllen@somervillema.gov.