See the Christmas Week Hours for City Hall, the Library and More

Watertown’s municipal buildings will have shortened hours during the week of Christmas. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Holiday Hours in Observance of Christmas

On December 24, 2025, the Department of Public Works offices will be closed at 11am, the Library will be closed at 12pm, and City Hall, Parker Building, and Senior Center will be closed at 12:30pm (note, the Inspectional Services and Zoning and Code Enforcement offices at the Parker Building will be closed at 11:30am)

On December 25, 2025, City Hall, Parker Annex, Parker Building, Senior Center, Library, and the Department of Public Works office, will be closed. On December 26, 2025, City Hall, Parker Annex, Parker Building, Senior Center, Library, and the Department of Public Works office, will be closed. Library will be open from 1-5 pm.

Reserve Now for the 26th Annual Watertown Unity Breakfast

The 26th annual Watertown Unity Breakfast will be on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026, and tickets are now available. See more details provided by the World in Watertown, below. World in Watertown is thrilled to invite you to the 26th annual Watertown Unity Breakfast on January 19, 2026 from 8:30-11 a.m.

Join us in person at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave, Watertown. Get your ticket at https://watertownunitybreakfast.eventbrite.com

A hot breakfast from Wicked Bagel will be served at 8:30 am followed by music, roundtable conversations, student essays, and the presentation of the Unity Award. Every year, the community in Watertown, Massachusetts, comes together on Martin Luther King Day to honor his life and civil rights legacy by recommitting to foundational principles of racial, social, and economic justice.

Watertown Church Holding Two Christmas Eve Services

Grace Chapel in Watertown will host a pair of Christmas Eve Services on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. See details in the announcement from Grace Chapel, below. Our Christmas Eve candlelight worship services are a beautiful experience for your whole family to enjoy! Celebrate Christmas with us at one of our two services:

Wednesday, December 24 | 3:00 pm

Wednesday, December 24 | 4:30 pm

There will be nursery childcare available for ages 0-3 years available.   

Registration Open for Watertown Recreation’s Winter Programs

Watertown Recreation Department’s Winter 2026 Programs are here! See details from the Recreation Department, below. Join us for the start of the new year with a full slate of youth and adult programming! Please see below: a snapshot of programs that are happening this winter. Here are some programs you might be interested in this winter!

Watertown Hibernians Hosting Joint Blood & Food Drive

The American Red Cross and the Watertown Ancient Order of Hibernians will hold the final blood drive of the year at Hibernian Hall on Dec. 27. The event is also a food drive for the Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry. So far in 2025, the Hibernians have collected 86 pints, helping patients in our community and beyond. The final blood drive of the year on Friday, Dec.

Chanukah Candles Light the Dark Night at Chabad Watertown’s Fourth Annual Celebration

Rabbi Dovid Zaltzman lights a candle on the ice menorah during the fourth annual Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The flames of the candles on the big outdoor menorah shone through the dark and frigid night during Monday’s Chabad Watertown’s fourth annual Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. Dozens braved the 20 degree weather to enjoy some hot chocolate and doughnuts, catch gelt dropped from a Watertown Fire truck’s ladder, and watch a man twirl flaming sticks, eat fire, and blow fireballs. The fire dancer shoots a fireball during the Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Held on the second night of Chanukah, Chabad Watertown invited City Manager George Proakis, along with Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan and Captain Dan Unsworth to light the service candle, in the middle of the ice menorah.

Housing for All Watertown Hosts Third Annual Happy HAW-lidays Cookie Exchange

The following announcement was provided by Housing for All Watertown:

Housing for All Watertown will host its third annual Happy HAW-lidays Cookie Exchange on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 5-7 p.m. in the Social Hall of First Parish of Watertown, located at 35 Church Street. The event is open to the public and welcomes community members of all ages! The cookie exchange offers a relaxed, festive opportunity for Watertown residents to connect with one another, enjoy the holiday season, and share homemade treats. Attendees are invited to bring cookies to exchange, though participation is welcome whether or not guests bring baked goods.

Work This Week on Mt. Auburn St. Includes Drainage Installation, Test Pits

Expect lane shifts and parking restrictions along the stretches of Mt. Auburn Street this week as construction crews work on drainage installation dig test pits. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Drainage Installation

Crews will perform drainage installation on Mount Auburn Street between Langdon Avenue and Winthrop Street. Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts

During this work, you can expect temporary lane shifts and possibly lane closures, but one travel lane in each direction will be maintained on Mount Auburn Street.