ArtBeat 2025: Mayor Ballantyne Invites All to Annual Festival in Davis Square Saturday, July 19

Summer is heating up in Somerville, so we’re bringing the cool. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council invite community members to “ArtBeat 2025: Freeze” on Saturday, July 19, from 12 to 9 p.m. in Davis Square (rain date: Sunday, July 20).  

One of the City's largest festivals, ArtBeat transforms Davis Square into a bustling celebration of creativity and community. The festival will feature approximately 100 craft and food vendors, local organizations, and two performance stages showcasing a dynamic mix of music, dance, theater, and interactive activities—all highlighting Somerville’s diverse and vibrant arts scene. Streets will be hopping with vendors and music from 12 to 7 p.m., with music continuing in Seven Hills Park until 9 p.m. Keep cool throughout by filling up your water bottle at the water buggy in Davis Sq., set up your umbrella on the Seven Hills Park lawn, or visit the shade sail by the Elm St. stage.  

Find photos, descriptions, and start times for all ArtBeat performers at bit.ly/44JqyNy.    

This year’s theme, “Freeze,” invites artists and attendees to creatively explore the many meanings of the word—whether that’s freezing in motion, preserving memories, or simply cooling down on a summer day. The event takes place throughout Davis Square, including Seven Hills Park, Elm Street, and Holland Street, which will be closed to traffic. Admission is free and open to all. 

“ArtBeat brings out the very best of Somerville—our creativity, diversity, and our strong sense of community,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “Each year, our local artists continue to surprise and inspire us, and I’m excited to see how they bring this year’s theme to life.” 

For all ArtBeat information, please visit: somervilleartscouncil.org/events/artbeat-freeze.  

MBTA Bus Information  

MBTA Buses Routes: 87, 88, 89, 90, 94, and 96 will be rerouted from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Please see www.mbta.com for full detour information. 

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 to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.  

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at somerviva@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.  

This event will be videotaped by the City’s GovTV team. Watch it on-demand with optional closed-captioning (select the CC icon) on YouTube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Or watch on cable TV at GovTV ( somervillema.gov/video) Comcast Ch. 22 and GovTV Astound (RCN) Ch. 13 & 613. Videos generally post within one business day of recording.