Around Town

Reserve Now for the 26th Annual Watertown Unity Breakfast

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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.

Business

Watertown Bids Farewell to China Rainbow, a Dining Destination for More than Half a Century

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China Rainbow, a Watertown dining institution since 1973, closed on Dec. 20, 2025. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Word spread fast after the announcement that one of Watertown’s dining institutions would be closing. Diners lined up to get a seat at opening time, and good luck finding a seat at dinner time. Fans of China Rainbow wanted to get one last tasty meal and a Mai Tai before owner Tammy Young retired after more than 50 years.

Around Town

Watertown Church Holding Two Christmas Eve Services

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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.   

Around Town

Registration Open for Watertown Recreation’s Winter Programs

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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!

Environment

City Council Sends Letter to MWRA Opposing Allowing Sewage Overflow in the Charles River

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Dave MartinA view down the Charles River from the Bridge on North Beacon Street. The City Council sent a letter to the MWRA opposing allowing sewage overflow from being released into the Charles River and returning to the days when the river was a “dumping ground for sewage.” The Council voted unanimously to support the letter at the Dec. 9 meeting. City Council President Mark Sideris said Watertown has invested in cleaning up the river.

Around Town

Watertown Hibernians Hosting Joint Blood & Food Drive

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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.

Around Town

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

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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.

Around Town

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

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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.