Tea and Tales for a. Winter’s Night
Step into the warm glow of the Somerville Museum this December for Tea & Tales for a Winter’s Night.
On December 18th, join us by the fireside for a comforting cup of tea and an evening steeped in the centuries-old tradition of telling ghost stories during the darkest days of the year.
Together, we’ll wander through Somerville’s own winter folklore—including the mysteries of the Ursuline Convent and the spectral lore surrounding the Somerville Theatre—as we uncover why the holiday season has long inspired eerie tales. Long nights, crackling hearths, and deep winter quiet have always stirred the imagination, giving rise to stories meant to thrill, unsettle, and bring people closer around the fire.
Cozy, atmospheric, and just a touch spooky, this intimate evening invites lovers of folklore, history, and seasonal storytelling to settle in and savor the magic of winter ghost lore.
Come for the tea—stay for the spirits.
250th First Flag Raising Celebration
11:30am: Procession from City Hall (all are invited)
12-1pm : First Flag Celebration at Prospect Hill Park (bring your own - or a neighbor’s national flag)
This year's milstone 250th anniversary expands the traditional military ceremony to better reflect the full diversity of people whose labor, courage and aspirations shaped the Revolution.
Program is free, but please register at Eventbrite.
Duo Maresienne | La Folia: Renaissance and Baroque Masterpieces from Spain
Celebrating Bach. Ensemble Chaconne (Peter H. Bloom, baroque flute; Carol Lewis, viola da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, baroque lute) perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach, including flute sonatas, a prelude and fugue for lute, and a cello suite transcription for viola da gamba.
Duo Maresienne | Hunts, Bagpipes & Scots Tunes: Music of the Scottish Renaissance & Baroque
Celebrating Bach. Ensemble Chaconne (Peter H. Bloom, baroque flute; Carol Lewis, viola da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, baroque lute) perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach, including flute sonatas, a prelude and fugue for lute, and a cello suite transcription for viola da gamba.
Duo Maresienne | The King of Denmark’s Health: Renaissance Music from Denmark-Norway
Celebrating Bach. Ensemble Chaconne (Peter H. Bloom, baroque flute; Carol Lewis, viola da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, baroque lute) perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach, including flute sonatas, a prelude and fugue for lute, and a cello suite transcription for viola da gamba.
Collage from the Collection
Dig through images of old Somerville, art magazines, books and programs from our collection and reinvent them in a collage!
Take home a piece of the museum when you create a collage from our collections! Join us for this special Friday add-on event. There will be one limited time slot for you to craft for an hour and a half: 5:30-7pm. Limited seats available, so bring a friend or meet someone new!
Recommended for teens and up, but littles can participate with an adult to use scissors.
Barcode Journeys Closing Reception
Join us for the Barcode Journeys closing reception and a final look at the art behind our everyday scans.
Join us for the closing reception of Barcode Journeys on Saturday, December 6th from 3-5pm
Everyday six billion black and white barcodes are scanned as they parade, barely noticed through our lives, stamped on practically everything. Today, a mind-boggling mass of invisible electronic data records our existence. Barcode Journeys explores the pervasiveness of barcodes in our daily lives—discovering the humor, awe, meaning, and aesthetics in our coexistence with barcodes, algorithms, and now, AI, ultimately asking what it means to stay human.
Participating Artists: Lesley Bannatyne, Lynn Cannici, Greg Duerhr, Nathan Fash, Janine Fay, Kyle Huffman, Barbara Jo, Olga Mesa, Elizabeth Pacini, Cindy Ramírez, Leddy R. Saenz, Charlie Warren, Sandra Wascher, and Woolsey Cole Chesterman, Lydia Fash.
Tavern Talk with Dan Breen: From Belmont Street to Brisbane
Somerville's own Rear Admiral Ralph Waldo Christie, and the technical glitches that drove his fellow submariners to distraction in WW2
Join us for a presentation on Somerville's own Rear Admiral Ralph Waldo Christie, and the technical glitches that drove his fellow submariners to distraction in the darkest days of World War Two.
Story Circle: Indigenous Tales Through Film & Storytelling
Story Circle: Indigenous Tales Through Film & Storytelling is a powerful and engaging program that brings Indigenous stories to life through film and spoken word. Designed for students in grades K–8, this program introduces young audiences to the rich cultural traditions, histories, and contemporary voices of Indigenous communities across North America.
Duo Maresienne: Gallant Lutes - Duos from the German Baroque
Gallant Lutes: Duos from the German Baroque. A seldom-heard treat: lutenists Timothy Burris and Olav Chris Henriksen perform a fantasia, a suite, a concert, a sonata and a ‘symphony” by Handel, Baron, Gleim, Lauffensteiner, and Falckenhagen.
Generative AI and the Art of Co-Creation
Generative AI invites us to dream alongside machines, where imagination takes shape through code. This event explores how humans and algorithms collaborate to create art, while also asking deeper questions: What happens when patterns of data shape creativity? Who owns a work born of both human intent and machine chance? Join us as we reflect on wonder, responsibility, and belonging in the age of AI
“Stories from the Dawnlands: Indigenous Histories and Living Legacies in New England"
Discover the deep history and living legacy of the Indigenous nations of “The Dawnlands”—the region we now know as Boston and greater New England. This engaging talk reveals how Native peoples shaped the area’s culture and landscape for millennia, how their worlds changed with the arrival of the Puritans in 1620, and how their vibrant communities continue to influence New England today.
Veteran's Day Remembrance Ceremony
Join us to honor and remember our veterans at the Veterans Day 2025 Remembrance Ceremony.
Veterans Day 2025 Remembrance Ceremony
At the 1863 Civil War Monument and the gravesite of an unknown British Soldier in Milk Row Cemetery
Secret Quarries of Somerville
Visit the city’s oldest burial ground, where friendly ghosts will tell you about their lives in 18th century Somerville. Learn about our city’s past from those who lived it.
Part of Somerstreets: Monster Mash
Free and Open to the Public - $5 Suggested Donation
A Dream from the Water's Eye/Dance performance by Cindy Ramirez
A Dance Performance | una danza interpretativa, by | por Cindy Ramirez
Peruvian artist Cindy Ramirez's work explores the evolution of Andean weaving through generations, blending traditional embroidery with modern digital tools, creating a dialogue between past and present. In the space of the Somerville Museum's historic staircase, Ramírez will present a 25-minute performance, accompanied by the Technohuayno music of Alan Poma. Donning her unku (Inca tunic) incorporating QR code symbols, the artist will use the staircase's shape to construct an Andean landscape in the shape of a chakana, the stepped motif reflecting Andean cosmology and spirituality. From this ephemeral installation the artist will share fragments of the garment, and acrylic plates and threads with the audience, establishing a tangible link with the performance.
Haunted Histories Walking Tour
Visit the city’s oldest burial ground, where friendly ghosts will tell you about their lives in 18th century Somerville. Learn about our city’s past from those who lived it.
Part of Somerstreets: Monster Mash
Free and Open to the Public - $5 Suggested Donation
"Rewind, Record, PLAY!"
The Somerville Museum is celebrating its 100th Anniversary on Thursday, October 23, 5:30-8:30pm at the Crystal Ballroom with a retrofuturist cocktail fundraising bash sponsored by SOMERNOVA, a generous gift in memory of Amy Anthony and many others!
Duo Maresienne: Celebrating Bach
Celebrating Bach. Ensemble Chaconne (Peter H. Bloom, baroque flute; Carol Lewis, viola da gamba; Olav Chris Henriksen, baroque lute) perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach, including flute sonatas, a prelude and fugue for lute, and a cello suite transcription for viola da gamba.
Ghosts of Somerville
Visit the city’s oldest burial ground, where friendly ghosts will tell you about their lives in 18th century Somerville. Learn about our city’s past from those who lived it.
Part of Somerstreets: Monster Mash
Free and Open to the Public - $5 Suggested Donation
Night at the Museum: A Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Bring your child’s favorite or second favorite stuffed animal to the Somerville Museum for a special overnight adventure!
Drop off toys on Thursday, October 9, from 5:00–6:00 PM, then return on Friday, October 10, at 11:00 AM for a cozy storytime and a slideshow of all the fun the stuffed animals had after hours. See the secret fun your stuffed animals had while you were asleep! A magical way for families to experience the museum!
History Un-Locked Drop in Chats
JOIN US TO CELEBRATE SOMERVILLE FROM ROOTS TO REVOLUTION ON THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY!
Prospect Hill will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism's MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Boston and Barcodes: Six Decades of Engineering and Tracking Devices with Peter Collins, President & CEO, A2B Tracking
Years ago David Collins, "the father of the barcode," developed a linear tracking technology called KarTrak that was first installed on Boston and Maine railcars that led the way to modern barcodes. A fundamental building block of our modern economy, the barcode is still the backbone for retailing and manufacturing. Peter Collins, following in his father's footsteps, is an expert in pioneering barcode and RFID technology to close critical gaps between human and technology resources. Learn about barcode history, protocols, 1D versus 2D codes, and the future of tracking and data management solutions for government contractors, laboratories, universities and commercial organizations.
Community Curator Zoom Info Session
Applications for the Somerville Museum’s Community Curator Program are now open!
Application Deadline: November 15
Info Session: Tuesday, October 7, 7pm on Zoom.. Learn how to bring YOUR exhibit idea to life. Experienced and non-experienced curators alike receive mentorship, resources, and gallery space to create exhibitions that celebrate Somerville’s vibrant past, present, and future. Exhibits accepted in any discipline. Multidisciplinary exhibits welcome. Community partners encouraged.
RSVP on Eventbrite by Tuesday, October 7 at 6:30pm to receive the zoom link.
The Grand Showband Tradition
We want to give a huge shout out and thank you to our friends at the Burren for holding a fundraiser for us on Saturday, October 4th in honor of our 100th Anniversary fundraising effort. The event will feature the music of the beloved Irish Miami Showband and our legendary Tavern Talk presenter, Dan Breen, will fill in the story. $55 gets you in to enjoy a complimentary buffet along with the program! Find tickets at Burren.com.
Barcode Journeys Zine Workshop with Barbara JO
Zines ("zeenez") are great little booklets you can make super fast. We'll provide paper for an 8-pg version for you to make your own zine that you can print out and share with others. Zines, each with their own personality, capture culture and art, and can highlight something someone feels passionate about or give voice to forgotten histories.
Curator Tour
Barbara Jo, curator of Barcode Journeys will give a guided tour of the work on exhibit and talk about her inspiration.
Free with museum admission
Escape from the Somerville Museum with Jef Czekaj
Oh no! Children's author and entertainer, Jef Czekaj is locked inside the Somerville Museum! He will only be released if he can answer questions like:
* Did 'Mary' from 'Mary had a Little Lamb' ever walk down this very street?
* What U.S. President lived in Somerville?
* If you were a 19th century pickle factory owner, where would you store your pickles?
Will Jef escape? He'll probably need the help of his puppets, Powcerhouse Pickle Jar and Somerville Sheep. Can you help too?
Stay for a scaventer hunt and discover more!
Free for children under $12. Others $-$12. Find tickets here
History Un-Locked Drop in Chats
JOIN US TO CELEBRATE SOMERVILLE FROM ROOTS TO REVOLUTION ON THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY!
THE POWDER HOUSE will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism's MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Opening Reception
Barcode Journeys Opening Reception
Everyday six billion black and white barcodes are scanned as they parade, barely noticed through our lives, stamped on practically everything. Today, a mind-boggling mass of invisible electronic data records our existence. Barcode Journeys explores the pervasiveness of barcodes in our daily lives—discovering the humor, awe, meaning, and aesthetics in our coexistence with barcodes, algorithms, and now, AI, ultimately asking what it means to stay human.
Participating Artists: Lesley Bannatyne, Lynn Cannici, Greg Duerhr, Nathan Fash, Janine Fay, Kyle Huffman, Barbara Jo, Olga Mesa, Elizabeth Pacini, Cindy Ramírez, Laidy Saenz, Charlie Warren, Sandra Wascher, and Woolsey Cole Chesterman.
Regular Admission charges apply.
Find tickets on Eventbrite
History Un-Locked Drop in Chats
JOIN US TO CELEBRATE SOMERVILLE FROM ROOTS TO REVOLUTION ON THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY!
Milk Row Cemetery will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism's MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Nepali Music and Dance Concert
Join us for a fun and casual evening with a group of women performers from the local Nepali Community for traditional folk songs and dance demonstrations!
Admission free
This program is supported by a grant from the Somerville Arts Council
RSVP
History in the Park: Spark of the Revolution!
Join the Somerville Museum as we commemorate the Powder Alarm of 1774, a significant event leading up to the American Revolution. Celebrations include history displays, guided tours of the Powder House, activity tables for all ages, and a scavenger hunt throughout the park!
This program is presented by the Somervllle Museum with support from the City of Somervillle
Tavern Talk with Dan Breen The March from Prospect Hill to Quebec: America Invades Canada, 1775
Tavern Talk with Dan Breen
The March from Prospect Hill to Quebec: America Invades Canada, 1775
250 years ago this September, Benedict Arnold led a thousand members of Washington's army to the north, away from the lines around Boston, in an attempt to drive the British out of Quebec. On the way they battled trackless bogs, debilitating hunger, bone-chilling cold and the ravages of disease--and that was the easy part! Join us as we relate the story of this, the first, and in some ways the most remarkable, military expedition in United States history.
Ticket available via Eventbrite.
Tickets $18 (non-members), includes one drink ticket
Members $14 (members), includes one drink ticket
Reflecting the Moment: Artists Respond to Time and Place
Reflecting the Moment: Artists Respond to Time and Place
Kaleidoscope Closing Reception, doors open at 2pm
Panel Discussion 3pm
Before the lights go down, come enjoy the art one more time, connect with the Artist, make your own art, and join us for a panel discussion at 3pm featuring:
Flor Delgadillo
Ravjot Mahek Singh
Pinar Banu Yassar
and moderated by Claudia Fiks
This exhibition has explored shifting ideas of home, family, neighbors, and community in a rapidly changing world. How do artists reflect such changes—the bending of language, the stretching of time, and the reshaping of place? Join the conversation!
Panel is free with regular museum admission. Members free.
RSVP
History Un-Locked Drop in Chats
JOIN US TO CELEBRATE SOMERVILLE FROM ROOTS TO REVOLUTION ON THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY!
Prospect Hill will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism's MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.