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Photos: How Somerville's 27th annual holiday lights display is keeping the city quirky
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If you’re looking for something quirky and unconventional, you can always count on Somerville. It holds true for their holiday lights, too.
Somerville Arts Council’s annual Illuminations Tour will guide you to the best holiday lights displays throughout the four-square-mile city. This year includes over 40 houses decked out with decorations ranging from festive and funny to religious or cultural. We spoke with Rachel Strutt, program manager for SAC, to learn more about the tradition and which streets you can’t miss.
- Take me back: The Illuminations Tour is in its 27th year and has evolved quite a bit since it started in 1997, according to Strutt. “One thing that fascinates me about the Illuminations Tour and the tradition of holiday decorating in the city is how it reflects our diverse and rich immigrant communities,” Strutt said. “Originally back in the early 2000s, there were a lot of families decorating that were from countries like Italy and Portugal and the Azores.” Many of those originals are no longer doing it, according to Strutt, because they've either died or moved out of town. “But what's so lovely is that new families and people come along and pick up the tradition. … The lights never go out.”
- FYI: Illuminations used to offer a trolley tour, but it was discontinued in 2020 amid the pandemic. Strutt says trolley rentals are too expensive to bring the rides back.
Must-see houses, according to Strutt:
- Robinson Street (near Magoun Square): ”They have some decorations that you can no longer find, like floating Santa heads from the 1950s. They also have a lot of animals in their yard, including a little pig and a giraffe. So, it's kind of like this menagerie of animals in the front yard.”
- Putnam Street (near Union Square): “The house features Bernie Sanders sitting on the porch and a tribute to the ‘three gifts of the Magi’ — Social Security, SNAP and Medicare — and lots of dinosaurs. It’s pretty awesome, and I think reflects the quirkiness and humor of the 'ville.”
- Otis Street (in East Somerville): "John Ragno, who I believe is Italian American, decorates not just one, but three houses in a cluster on Otis Street. So, he lives in one house, and then his two daughters live in the other houses. I think his house is more sacred in nature, and has a creche out front. And one of his daughters loves Disney and Disney World, so hers is more Disney themed.”
Know before you go: It’s free! And the houses will be lit through early January. Strutt recommends using the interactive Illuminations house map along with the map app of your choice to plan your walking route.
