Somerville's Civic Day Gives Residents Chance To Learn About City

SOMERVILLE, MA — The City of Somerville is inviting community members of all ages to attend the first-ever Civic Day.

The event is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 30 on the concourse at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. If it rains, the event will take place at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave.

"Civic Day aims to provide community members of all ages with fun, interactive opportunities to learn about city government, programs, services and ways to get involved," city officials said in a statement.

Attendees will be able to take a tour of City Hall, meet Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the city councilors, speak to the Rat Czar and other city staff, and even cast a vote in the city's first-ever Participatory Budgeting process. There also will be a chance for attendees to get flu shots.

Family activities will include: Somerville Public Works' Let's Get Truckin' touch-a-truck program, face painting, games, trivia and music. Free food will be provided by Tipping Cow Ice Cream and Pennypacker's.

City officials remind residents that the City Hall concourse will be closed to vehicles during the event, but temporary handicap parking will be available along Highland Avenue near City Hall.

Additionally, multilingual staff from SomerViva: Office of Immigrant Affairs will be on hand at the event to offer language support for residents who may need assistance in connecting with city departments.