A Semester in Review
At the end of my third semester, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share my experiences as a sophomore here at Tufts. Going through my fall semester…
Venturing Off the Hill: Exploring Our Medford-Somerville Communities
In many ways, we have everything we need right here on our hilltop. Over here in Admissions, the conversations around getting off campus are often about going into the city of Boston (“just 4 or 5 miles away!”). I’ve definitely experienced the full range of how often students can get out and about. Some semesters I rarely left Tufts. Others, I went out just every now and then for a concert or brunch or a museum. During my last semester, I commuted into the city four days a week for my internship downtown.
Over my four years at Tufts I’ve had the chance to explore the many activities Massachusetts has to offer, both near and far. But, some of the most impactful, fun, and accessible places to spend a little time off campus are much closer: right here in Medford and Somerville!
As I’m sure you’ve guessed, our “Medford-Somerville” campus resides right on the border of both these cities. This primary campus is the heart of Tufts, as well as of undergraduate life and operations. Rain or shine, spring or fall…here are some important events and opportunities I think you shouldn't miss:
Summer
ArtBeat — Davis Square, Somerville
This one special day in mid-July is an annual free-entry street fair of arts communities and multicultural celebrations right in the heart of Tufts’ closest town center. ArtBeat holds a special place in my heart because it was one of my first introductions to the greater Tufts community when I did the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts’ Pre-College Studio Art program way back in 2018. I remember walking through all the streets with food trucks, tents of art vendors, and past the stilt walkers and knowing that I wanted to come back. Enjoy this “eclectic mix of music, dance, theater, food, performance, and interactive activities.”
Important Tip! Davis Square is a very common (and awesome!) location for students to visit. It’s just a 15-minute walk down College Avenue, or a short ride away on the big blue Tufts shuttle, aka “the Joey,” which runs back and forth from the Campus Center to Davis Sq. all day during the school year.
Medford Farmers Market — Condon Shell Park on the Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford
For the 2025 season, the Medford Farmers Market is open on Thursdays from June to October. The market has local artisans, performers, and vendors who bring in fresh foods and produce. I recently went and enjoyed some fresh strawberries, adopted a cilantro plant, and ate an entire loaf of everything bagel seasoned sourdough bread for my dinner that night. This market is right next to the permanent Winthrop Street Community Garden, too. Just take a walk down to the end of Winthrop/Curtis St. (and you'll pass the MOST excellent local bagel shop on the way, Goldilox Bagels). Yay!
Royall House & Slave Quarters — George Street, Medford
Offers year-round public programming, and open for weekend tours from June to October. Even if you’re not a local history buff, it’s worth taking a short walk down the road to visit this historic site. I would say that this house stands as a reminder to be wary of reductionist approaches US and Black history. To highlight the museum’s mission in their own expert words: “As one of the only remaining freestanding quarters where enslaved people lived and worked in the North, the museum bears witness to their lives, to the intertwined stories of wealth and bondage in pre-Revolutionary Massachusetts, and to the resistance and political and legal activism of enslaved and free Black people in the eighteenth century.”
Fall
Fluff Festival — Union Square, Somerville
Every September, Somerville locals and visitors come from far and away for one day in Union Square marking the innovation and birthplace of Marshmallow Fluff. This free day of all things Fluff boasts fluff-related swag, craft & food vendors, and stages with fluff-related activities (fluff jousting, musical chairs, fluff hairdos, limbo) and musical performances. #ForeverFluff!
Honk! Festival of Activist Street Bands — Davis Square, Somerville
This event typically occurs at the beginning of October. For soon-to-be 20 years, this collective of activist bands (alongside highly decorated parade floats) have gathered to put together the Honk! procession through Davis Sq. This free, family-friendly, mini-Mardi-Gras-style street carnival brings the “brassroots revolution” to their causes by leading musical movements. The creativity actually extends all weekend with related events in some of the surrounding town centers of Somerville.
Somerville Flea Market — Davis Square, Somerville
Open on Sundays from August to October. All kinds of vendors frequent this weekly community gathering! Everything from vintage clothes, art and handmade items, antiques, and fresh produce. One of my favorite winter jackets is a beautiful, stylish mint green and white vintage coat that I got at this market (discounted!) my first fall here at Tufts. It’s been an important staple of my wardrobe ever since.
Spring
PorchFest — Somerville
Usually this day lines up with our last weekend of finals in May. PorchFest is basically a big block party all around Somerville where local bands (and many a Tufts student band) station themselves to perform on porches for spectators to enjoy.
Usually the first weekend of May. Walk around (like a scavenger hunt) and visit local visual artists’ studios around Davis Square and beyond. These venues have a mix of art for sale, or just for show. Organized separately from the Somerville Arts Council, the goal is to build neighborly kinship and share in our love of the arts!
Winter & Year-Round
Charlotte & William Bloomberg Medford Public Library — High Street, Medford
This site became the town’s library in 1875 after Thatcher Magoun Jr. offered up the Magoun Mansion for this purpose (probably also of the Magoun Square train stop fame on the Green Line). It underwent a modernizing “mid-century refresh” in 1957, and from 2017–2022 it was renovated into the bright and colorful building it is today. I spent a few afternoons in this space while working on my Summer Scholars research, and am looking forward to going back. Public libraries are one of the greatest assets that a community can have, sharing their range of resources with families and individuals—and, the benefits of a library card go far! There’s a beautiful mural called the Stacks Mosaic down on the main level, by artists Glendalys Medina and Stephen Miotto (“master in the ancient craft of mosaic”). High St. is a nice medium-length walk from campus, or you can take an MBTA bus.
Somerville Theatre — Davis Square, Somerville
The Somerville Theatre opened in 1914 for live performances, vaudeville, opera, and movies (just as they were becoming popular). Since then, it’s been a beloved staple for patrons of Davis Square. I saw Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) there—long after the movie originally came out—in the bigger & historic main theater. I also think I saw Spencer (2021), The French Dispatch (2021), and Materialists (2025) there. Student ticket prices are very reasonable and they have good snacks. This theater feels very down to earth and always has great movie lineups of vintage and throwback films alongside new releases. (It also doesn’t scare me like the super high tech theaters with waiters and stuff…cough cough…..Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Boston’s Seaport…cough). Right upstairs is a space called The Crystal Ballroom, which does music nights and vintage night markets. All-around amazing!
Bonus Recommendation! Porter Square Books in Porter Square (technically in Cambridge, but it’s only another 10-15 minutes walking past Davis Square so it feels like Somerville—Porter Sq. also has its own Red Line train stop!) It's my favorite local/independent bookstore, hands down. They recently relocated to a bigger store on Massachusetts Ave, but their former store location was just one block away on White St. and their business partner Cafe Zing! has been able to expand into the whole venue and opened up a vintage market (Chartreuse Microbus Collective) inside the coffee shop.
Be free! Explore! Put roots down in the communities that share their histories and passions with Tufts.
