Menorah Lighting

All are invited to join Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and City staff for Somerville’s 2022 holiday celebrations throughout the month of December.

Holiday Lighting & Santa Visit

We’ll kick off on Thursday, December 8, with the Holiday Lighting on the City Hall Concourse, followed by a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Cafeteria. All children who attend will receive a special gift from Santa and will have an opportunity to take a photo with Old St. Nick. Activities begin at 5:00 p.m. with live entertainment prior to the official lighting of the City Hall Concourse and Christmas trees. Santa Claus will, as always, be escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police Departments making his grand entrance atop a shiny red fire truck. This year, there will not only be one Christmas Tree lit up, there will be a family of trees. In addition to a lovely fresh-cut tree, for the first time, the City is also lighting up and decorating a stand of six living pines on the City Concourse as well, and Mayor Ballantyne will share at the event that in the spring, we will be planting the City's first-ever living permanent Christmas tree that will grow over time with the City. Light refreshments will be served.

Menorah Lighting

On Sunday, December 18, a ceremonial Menorah Lighting event will take place on the City Hall Concourse beginning at 5 p.m. All members of the community are invited to join Mayor Ballantyne, Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz, and City staff for a brief ceremony and photo on the City Hall Concourse. A short informal program of traditional songs and sing-alongs will be performed, special gifts will be available for children, and light refreshments will be served. The Menorah will be lit each night of Hanukkah. 

Illuminations Self-Guided & Bike Tours and Citywide Caroling

We’re happy to announce that the Illuminations Tour and citywide caroling is back. As in recent years, the Somerville Arts Council will provide an online map featuring the best and brightest holiday displays. To access the map or sign up to be featured on the tour or to carol, visit somervilleartscouncil.org.

Important Illuminations Tour and Caroling Deadlines and Dates:

• Deadline to be listed on Illuminations Tour, Monday, December 5: Both homes and businesses may sign up to be on the Illuminations Tour Map
• Anticipated Illuminations Tour map launch, Thursday, December 8: We'll release the map as soon as it's done
• Deadline to sign up for caroling, Sunday, December 11: Plan to join us! Let us sing!
• Citywide Caroling, Thursday, December 15: Citywide Caroling (rain date December 16th)
• Illuminations Bike Tour, Saturday, Dec 17th: meet at Somerville City Hall at 5:45 pm, depart at 6 pm. (rain date Dec 18th), 

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

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.