Arlington Town Day Returning In September

The event has since grown into one of Arlington's major annual community gatherings.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Aug 11, 2026 8:19 AM EDT

The first Town Day was held in 1966 to commemorate Arlington's connection to Uncle Sam, an Arlington native. (Amber Fisher/Patch)

ARLINGTON, MA — Local leadership is preparing for Town Day this fall, bringing vendors, food, entertainment and community organizations to Massachusetts Avenue for the annual townwide celebration.

Town Day is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. along Massachusetts Avenue between Pleasant Street and Jason Street. The event will be held rain or shine.

Businesses, craftspeople, nonprofit organizations and food vendors could apply for booth space at the event until Aug. 1. Applications are scheduled to be reviewed in mid-August, with applicants expected to receive an email around that time regarding their status. Approved applicants will then be instructed to submit payment through the town's OpenGov portal.

Business vendor booths cost $250, while craft and nonprofit booths cost $100. Food vendor business booths cost $350 and nonprofit food vendor booths cost $150, with both also subject to a $50 Health Department fee. Vendors can add an electrical outlet for $75 or an open flame or grill for $30.

Food vendors will also have an opportunity to participate in the Reduce Single-Use Takeout Waste Reduction Pilot, a partnership between Zero Waste Arlington and the Town Day Committee aimed at reducing waste from takeout containers, cups and other disposable items.

Participation in the pilot is free for food vendors. Vendors will receive reusable containers at no cost and agree to serve orders in them when customers participating in the program present a special ticket. Vendors are also asked to distribute single-use accessories, including forks, napkins, straws and condiments, only upon request.

Zero Waste Arlington will handle customer sign-ups, ticket distribution, container distribution and the collection of used containers. Vendors will not be responsible for washing the containers and will receive clean, sanitized reusable containers on Town Day. The containers have been approved for use by the Board of Health.

Residents who want to participate in the program can sign up at the Zero Waste Arlington Reduce Single-Use booth or through volunteers stationed near participating vendors. Customers will provide a credit card to secure a container and receive a ticket to use at a participating food vendor.

Customers can then return their used containers to the Zero Waste Arlington booth. The program is free for customers who return their containers, while customers will be charged for containers that are not returned.

Town Day has been an Arlington tradition for decades. The first Town Day was held in 1966 to commemorate Arlington's connection to Uncle Sam, the national symbol associated with Samuel Wilson, who was born in Arlington in 1766 and later supplied meat to American troops during the War of 1812. The celebration became an annual tradition following Arlington's bicentennial festivities in 1976.

The event has since grown into one of Arlington's major annual community gatherings. The town described the 2023 celebration as the 45th Town Day, with more than 200 booth vendors offering food, demonstrations, and activities. The town again reported more than 200 vendors when the event returned for its 46th year in 2024.

Massachusetts Avenue will be closed between Route 60 Pleasant Street and Jason/Mill Street from 9:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. on the day of the event. Access to Massachusetts Avenue from adjoining side streets will also be affected.

The MBTA will reroute buses around the closure, and traffic delays are expected in the area. Visitors are encouraged to walk to the festivity if able.