SomerStreets

Celebrate summer with the City of Somerville at “Seize the Summer,” the July installment of the City’s seasonal SomerStreets festival, on Sunday, July 29^th from noon to 4pm between Walnut and Cedar Streets on Highland Ave. Seize the Summer is the second of the 2013 SomerStreets celebrations, with the first event having drawn more than 3,000 attendees in June along East Broadway. For this unique street fair, where “roads are closed to cars and open to you,” programming includes: a family bike ride, health & fitness fair; live music; family-friendly activities; craft vendors; food and more.

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 cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity. Through SomerStreets, the City and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, fresh foods, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.

 “Somerville has become a hub for innovation, for unique urban living experience, and for its festivals. SomerStreets celebrates each of those ideals and so much more, bringing the community together to really experience the culture, quality and flavor of different neighborhoods while encouraging walkability and bikeability,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Fresh off of another successful ArtBeat and the first SomerStreets of the year along East Broadway, Seize the Summer promises to be another fun-filled family celebration.”

Along Highland Ave., local businesses and organizations including the American Red Cross, Cambridge Health Alliance, the Center for Arts at the Armory, the Somerville YMCA, the Somerville Public Library, Somerville Fire Department, Naked Juice, and Assembly Row among others, will partner with the City to provide activities for children and adults of all ages.  Activities will include, but are not limited to:

·         Bike decorating & family bike ride (leaves at 1 p.m. from City Hall)

·         Mini golf

·         Live music at two locations (The Center for Arts at the Armory and Highland Kitchen)

·         CHA Health and Wellness Fair

·         Craft Fair at the Armory

·         Corn Hole Tournament (to register for the event go to: http://www.bostoncornhole.com/tournaments/seize-the-summer)   

·         Food

·         Arts & crafts, games

·         Painting, and much more!

In order to ensure public safety at the event, road closures and parking bans will be in effect.

·         Highland Avenue (Walnut Street to Cedar Street)

Closed to all vehicular traffic 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; no parking 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

·         City Hall Concourse and Central Library parking lots

No parking 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

MBTA buses will be rerouted from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Residents who live directly on Highland Avenue may call (857) 523-9017 in advance or on the day of the event and city volunteers will assist you in leaving/returning to your property safely during the event.

All SomerStreets events will run from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine.