Town Day, the locally beloved celebration of Arlington’s community, returned for its 48th year on Saturday, Sept. 20.
From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., hundreds of booths will be lined up along Mass. Ave. (between Jason and Pleasant Street), representing local businesses, committees, schools, clubs and much more. Town residents — and all visitors — are invited to stroll along the avenue to engage with neighbors, town employees and leaders, and learn more of what Arlington has to offer its residents.
This year’s Town Day is looking up
Last year, Town Day featured roughly 237 booths and the music and dance entertainment was moved indoors due to heavy rain which lasted the entire day.
This year, 250 booths have registered for the event, and meteorologist Matthew Moll predicts sunny skies and seasonably cool temperatures to kick off the start of fall.
“Residents can expect ideal fall weather for Town Day festivities. The morning will start crisp in the 40s and 50s, so a light jacket will be handy early on. By midday, sunshine and dry air will make conditions very comfortable, with highs in the upper 60s. It’s a great day for Town Day this year without worrying about heat, humidity, or rain,” according to Moll’s Arlington-specific forecast.
What to know before you go: Tables, traffic and Town Day activities
As the three blocks in Arlington Center are anticipated to be crowded with booths, tents and hundreds of community members, visitors may be wondering how to best navigate their day.
Kick off at Town Hall
An interactive map displaying every table participating at this year’s Town Day, along with its specific location and booth number, was put together by Arlington’s Economic Development Coordinator Katie Luczai.
Starting off the day, a welcoming event is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. at the Town Hall outdoor stage (730 Mass. Ave.) At this time, the town will gather to hear the National Anthem, and the Select Board will be recognized.
Immediately following, the Arlington Pop Warner Cheerleaders will perform for the crowd.
The stage at Town Hall will be the host for a series of performances throughout the day, concluding around 4 p.m. as the booths prepare to pack up their stations.
A full schedule of Town Hall performances is below:
- 10:30 a.m. : National Anthem performance and Select Board welcome
- 10:40 a.m. : Arlington Pop Warner Cheerleader performance
- 11 a.m. to noon: Fly by Brass band, a 12 piece brass ensemble performing jazz and upbeat rock.
- Noon to 2 p.m.: The Arlington High School performing arts department, led by Tino D’Agostino
- 2 to 3 p.m.: Band performance by Mrs. Jones and A Thing Going on, playing classic rock, soul and R&B hits from the sixties to the nineties.
- 3 to 4 p.m.: Arlington based cover band, Thursday Night Special, singing music by Chris Stapleton, Dua Lipa, John Mayer and more.
There will also be a photo booth set up in front of Town Hall for visitors to bring home memories from their 2025 Town Day experience.
While residents can easily spend the day strolling along Mass. Ave. at each booth — Town Day offers several family-fun activities break up the day.
The Dallin Art Museum’s “Art on the Green” at Whittemore Park (611 Mass. Ave.)
During the entire length of Town Day, the Dallin Art Museum serves as a hub for art shows, live music, museum tours, raffles, shopping and family games.
Artwork and other hand-made crafts from 14 different artists will be on display and for sale, including pottery, clothing, accessory, photography and much more.
Those interested to learn more about each featured artist can see the full list on the museum website.
Visitors who stop by the park in the morning can enjoy live music, courtesy of the Eliot Woodwind Ensemble, performing classical and contemporary music.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Art on the Green offers museum tours, free of charge, to showcase the work of celebrated sculptor Cyrus Dallin, who lived and worked in Arlington for 40 years.
Something for the kids:
The Whittemore Robbins House park, (670R Mass. Ave.) will have a pony ride experience for children, sponsored by Gibson Sotheby Realty.
Just next door in the parking lot of Robbins Library (700 Mass. Ave.) a remote control race track will be set up.
Also nearby at the Robbins Memorial Garden, Bubbles McGee and Co. brings a unique bubble experience with handcrafted wands, nets and props.
Educational fun
- Used book sale
Throughout September, the Robbins Library accepted donations from residents looking to rid old books and media. On Town Day, the library will host its annual book sale, offering paper and hardbacks, record albums, tote bags and more. The sale is set to last from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Visitor’s Center
The Arlington Vistors Center (4 Mystic St.) will be open that Saturday for visitors who want to meet the volunteers and learn about the town’s history and attractions.
- Arlington Police Department K9 Demonstration
In the Robbins Library parking lot, APD Officer Michael Hogan and the department police K9, Eiko, will be conducting demonstrations for residents to learn more about how Arlington’s law enforcement works with their police dogs.
- Arlington Fire Department fire demonstrations
Members of the AFD will be stationed at the Whittemore Robbins Parking lot throughout the entirety of Town Day to teach children about fire hazards in the home.
There will be a 3-room trailer “Smoke House” from Metro Fire SAFE, a fire truck and the Jaws of Life.
Food and beverage
Several cafes and restaurants along Mass. Ave. will have their doors open throughout Town Day, inviting the many passing by to stop in and fuel up.
The Arlington Brewing Company outdoor beer garden at Robbins Memorial will also be open for families.
Beer is available for purchase for those 21 and older, and the garden will also have food vendors.
Fireworks to end the night
While the booths close and the performances end by 4:30 p.m., Town Day still offers one final event to conclude its 47th season.
A firework performance is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will last about 15 minutes. Walking to Spy Pond is highly recommended as traffic delays are anticipated and parking is limited. Please follow guidance from the Mass Dept. Of Public Health (MDPH) to protect yourself from mosquito bites, such as wearing long-sleeve clothing and using insect repellent. Download the Preventing Mosquito Bites Guide from the MDPH.
Vist YourArlington.com
YourArlington board members and volunteers will be stationed at Booth 73, on the side of the street alongside the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church (630 Mass. Ave.)
YourArlington staff will be sharing information with residents about the website’s new design and upcoming reporting and events.
Parking and road closures
The town has informed residents that Mass. Ave. will be closed between Pleasant Street (Route 60) and Jason and Mill streets from 9:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., as access to Mass. Ave. from adjoining side streets.
MBTA has rerouted its bus routes accordingly. Traffic delays are expected. Visitors are encouraged to walk to the event, if possible.
