Somerville Residents Invited to Be “Loyal to Local” Businesses This Season

One-of-a-kind gifts, tasty foods, great entertainment, artist markets, and fun events await this holiday season (and winter!) in Somerville, and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne wants to be sure the community seizes these opportunities to support Somerville’s local businesses all winter long by shopping, dining, and going out local as part of the City’s “Loyal to Local” initiative. 

“Across the country, communities are gearing up to celebrate Small Business Saturday this week. In Somerville, we know the goal is not just to shop locally one day a year, but all 365 days of the year,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “If you’re heading out anyway, let’s keep it local and shop, dine, go out, and seek services from the local and small businesses that help keep our city vibrant and a great place to live.”

Loyal to Local Website and Calendar

Opportunities to stay loyal to local businesses abound in Somerville. This winter, residents looking to discover new places to shop, dine, catch a show, or seek a service can visit somervillema.gov/loyal2local for updates and events (a few are up now, more to come!). 

In December, the City will also publish a “Ways to Stay Loyal to Local” calendar, available online and at community locations throughout the season. The resources will share how residents can help Somerville’s businesses and keep their dollars in the community, whether by exploring neighborhood shops, attending local holiday markets, dining at independent restaurants, seeking local services, or sharing favorite businesses with friends and neighbors. 

Upcoming Events

There are great local business events to kick off the holiday shopping season in Somerville. This is just a sampling. More to come on the Loyal 2 Local Calendar including local artist markets too.

• Small Business Saturday at Bow, Saturday, 11/29: Head to Bow Market from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. you’ll find retail, food & drink specials, the annual maker market & "shop small win big" prize challenges. More at www.bowmarketsomerville.com
• Davis Square Holidate, Saturday 12/6: Shop, dine, and chill out all day and eve amid holiday lights and enjoy holiday specials, sales, giveaways, a raffle, and more throughout the Square as Davis Square merchants host the first ever Davis Square Holidate.
• Eat Out in East, every Wednesday: Each Wednesday, 4-8 p.m. (or really anytime) East Somerville Main Streets invites folks to Eat Out on East (East Broadway that is). Gift cards to local eateries and bakeries can make great holiday gifts too. More at eastsomervillemainstreets.org/eatoutineast.
• Union Square Jingle, Sunday 12/7: Head to Union Square from 1 to 6 p.m., shop, sip, follow the Festivus Trail, enjoy window displays and holiday lights, pose with crazy inflatables, vie for prizes, take Elfie Selfies, and more. More at unionsquaremain.org/events 

“Somerville’s small businesses are the heart of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “When you shop small, you’re investing in community jobs, supporting local families, and strengthening the places that make Somerville feel like home.”

The Loyal to Local campaign, led by the City’s Economic Development and Communications teams aims to uplift the small businesses that fuel Somerville’s economy, preserve its unique character, and keep its commercial districts vibrant year-round. 

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.