Community Invited to Somerville 2025 Holiday Celebrations

’Tis the season for community cheer. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council (SAC) invite the Somerville community to join in the City’s 2025 holiday celebrations. Once again, the City Hall concourse will be aglow with festive Christmas tree and menorah lighting events that will include snacks, refreshments, entertainment, and gifts for children.

Community members are also invited to experience sparkling holiday displays created by their neighbors when they embark on a self-guided Illuminations tour. Start the year off with the annual Grand Union Flag Raising on New Years Day. Gift donations are also welcome for the City’s annual support of local Holiday Gift Drives. More details about each event and opportunity are below. 

Christmas Tree Lighting 

• Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025 (Rain date: December 9)
• Start Time: 5 p.m.
• Location: City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.)
• Activities: Music, treats, Christmas tree lighting, children’s gifts, and Santa’s grand entrance on a shiny red fire truck followed by visits and photos with Santa.   

Menorah Lighting 

• Date: Monday, December 15, 2025 (Rain date: December 16)
• Start Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.)
• Activities: Music, words, treats, Menorah lighting, and gifts for children. 

Holiday Gift Drives 

Each December, the City celebrates the season of giving by supporting local holiday gift drives. Check back soon on the City website (somervillema.gov/news) or sign up for the City e-newsletter at www.somervillema.gov/subscribe for coming details on how you can contribute. 

Illuminations Tour 

• Dates: December 12, 2025-January 12, 2026 

  • Showcase your creativity and add your home or business to the online Illuminations map by Thursday, December 11 (somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminations-submit-a-listing) 

  • Take a self-guided tour using the published map starting Friday, December 12 

  • Join the Illuminations bike tour on Sunday, December 13 (rain date: December 14) at 5:45 p.m. Meet in front of City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) 

• Visit somervilleartscouncil.org/events/illuminations2025 to access the map and for more information. 

Grand Union Flag Raising 

Each year on New Year’s Day, the City’s annual Grand Union Flag Raising at Prospect Hill commemorates the raising of the nation’s first official flag by George Washington and his troops during the American Revolution. Watch for more details to come, but mark your calendar now for this event that connects us to our local and national history.  

For more information on the City’s holiday events, please call 311 (617-666-3311 from outside the City). For more information on the SAC Illuminations Tour, please contact 311 or email Iaritza Menjivar at imenjivar@somervillema.gov. 

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 languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of these events.  

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