Join Mayor Curtatone and city staff for Somerville’s 2019 holiday celebrations throughout the month of December.

We’ll kick off on Thursday, December 5, with the Christmas Tree Lighting on the City Hall Concourse, followed by a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus in the City Council Chambers. All children who attend will receive a special gift from Santa. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with live entertainment prior to the official tree lighting. Santa Claus will, as always, be escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police Departments.

On Saturday, December 14 (snow date: Sunday, December 15), residents and visitors are invited to the Somerville Arts Council’s annual Illuminations Tour. Tour guides will lead trolleys past some of the City’s most spectacular displays of holiday lights, sharing stories about the families that decorate and providing local historic trivia en route. Tours depart from City Hall every 45 minutes beginning at 4:30 p.m., but tickets are required.

Trolley Tour tickets will be available (cash or check only) at Nibble Kitchen, 1 Bow Market Way (entrance to Bow Market at 345 Somerville Ave.) as follows:

• Sunday, December 1, 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

• Thursday, December 5, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children (12 and under) and seniors (60+). Proceeds go toward funding the public programs of the Somerville Arts Council. Tickets sell quickly; please plan accordingly. If there are left-over tickets, we sell them at City Hall the night of the event. For more information: go to: www.somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminationstour

Finally, on Sunday, December 22, a ceremonial Menorah Lighting will take place on the City Hall Concourse beginning at 5:00 p.m. 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. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information on the city’s holiday events, please call 311 (617-666-3311 from outside the city).

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 Manager of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or nsalamoun@somervillema.gov.