SomerStreets 2025 Kicks Off with Carnaval Celebration on Sunday, June 1

The Somerville community is invited to get their dancing shoes on as SomerStreets: Carnaval returns on Sunday, June 1, from 2 to 6 p.m. (rain date Sunday, June 8) to kick off the 2025 SomerStreets season, which will include a series of three neighborhood street festivals across Somerville.  

SomerStreets: Carnaval celebrates the East Broadway Business District and community with food, music, and activities from around the world. Programming will extend along East Broadway from McGrath Hwy to Pennsylvania Ave.  

The event will kick off at 2 p.m. with a parade starting at Garfield Avenue. Attendees can shop more than 40 artisan vendors, view performances from Grooversity and Trio Champola, enjoy food from 13 neighborhood restaurants, and join an interactive activity like participatory art making, led by local artists Andres Duarte and Nate Devarie. There will also be plenty of family friendly fun including a Bouncy House, Parkour, Esh Circus, and other activities.  

SomerStreets: Carnaval is organized by East Somerville Main Streets in collaboration with the Somerville Arts Council. SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles, and opening them up for walking, dancing, and other activities.  

Mark your calendar for the next two SomerStreets festivals as well: 

• Saturday, September 13: SomerStreets: Gilman Arts and Music Festival  

• Sunday, October 19: SomerStreets: Monster Mash along Somerville Avenue 

Road Closures and Bus Detours for SomerStreets: Carnaval:  

To ensure public safety at the event, several road closures and parking bans will be in effect on Broadway between McGrath Highway and Pennsylvania Avenue: For more information about road closures contact 311 (617-666-3311).  

• Broadway between McGrath Highway and Pennsylvania Avenue closed to all vehicular traffic. 

• No parking on either side of the street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents who live on the west side of Broadway will be detoured onto Broadway at Pennsylvania Ave. Residents who live on the east side of Broadway will be detoured onto Pearl St. 

• MBTA buses will be rerouted from 11 to 8 p.m. For full detour information, visit mbta.com/bus 

For information on how to participate in any of the SomerStreets events, go to somervilleartscouncil.org/somerstreets or contact Iaritza Menjivar, Events Coordinator, at (617) 625-6600 ext. 2998 or imenjivar@somervillema.gov.  

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, Adrienne Pomeroy, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov 

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 Comcast Ch. 22 and GovTV Astound (RCN) Ch. 13 & 613.  Videos generally post within one business day of recording. 

Interpretation into any language is available upon advance request (at least seven days in advance) by contacting the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva or calling 311 at 617-666-3311.