Broadway Street Event Returns For 17th Year

East Somerville Main Streets and the Somerville Arts Council are bringing SomerStreets: Carnaval back to Broadway on Sunday, June 7, 2026, with a free afternoon street festival centered on music, food and family activities. The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. along Broadway between McGrath Highway and Pennsylvania Avenue, according to the organizers. A severe weather date is set for Sunday, June 14. Organizers say the festival will again turn a stretch of East Somerville’s business district into a pedestrian event space with performances, vendors and community programming. ### When and where is the festival happening? Sunday, June 7, is the scheduled date for SomerStreets: Carnaval, and the event footprint runs along Broadway from McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Avenue. East Somerville Main Streets says the festival will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with Broadway closed to regular traffic across that stretch during the event. The Somerville Arts Council lists the same location and hours and describes the event as a walkable celebration of community and culture in the East Somerville business district. Meet Boston, which carries the event listing, also says admission is free. ### Who is putting it on? East Somerville Main Streets and the Somerville Arts Council are co-producing the festival, according to both organizations’ event pages. The city is also named in the East Somerville Main Streets announcement, which invites residents and visitors to attend the June 7 event. The Somerville Arts Council says SomerStreets: Carnaval is part of its broader public programming in the city. On its location page for the Broadway corridor, the council says the event is intended to bring together neighbors, local businesses and visitors through live music, food and family-friendly activities. ### What will people find there besides music? Organizers say the June 7 program will include live performances, food vendors, craft vendors and activities for children and families. East Somerville Main Streets says the opening portion of the event will feature a Brazilian-style kickoff with Grooveristy and Samba Viva, followed by performances including Pedro Secco & Friends, Trio Latino and Mambiseros. Local restaurants named by organizers include Gauchão Brazilian Cuisine, Rei da Picanha, Rincón Mexicano, Taqueria Montecristo and Michette. East Somerville Main Streets also lists bounce houses, games, a dunk tank and other interactive activities as part of the family programming. ### Why is Broadway the center of this event? Broadway is the main corridor for East Somerville’s business district, and organizers describe the event as a way to showcase that stretch of neighborhood commerce and culture. The Somerville Arts Council says Carnaval highlights the heart of the East Somerville business district and brings together residents, businesses and visitors. The event materials also frame the festival as neighborhood-specific. East Somerville Main Streets says the program is designed around East Somerville’s multicultural community and its restaurants, murals and local storefronts. ### What should residents know about traffic and parking? Broadway between McGrath Highway and Pennsylvania Avenue will have road closures and parking bans in place for public safety, according to the event listing carried by Meet Boston. The Somerville Arts Council says road closures and parking restrictions will be posted separately. The Meet Boston listing says residents seeking more information about closures can contact Somerville 311 at 617-666-3311. Organizers have not published a full closure schedule in the event text now visible online. ### What happens if the weather is bad? Sunday, June 14, is the listed severe weather date on the East Somerville Main Streets, Somerville Arts Council and Meet Boston event pages. Organizers have not posted a separate revised schedule beyond that backup date. June 7 remains the planned festival date, with the event set for 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Broadway unless weather forces a postponement to June 14.