If you have room for one more stop on Saturday, October 10, 2026, put Somerville High School on the list. From 3 to 8 p.m., the Center for Arabic Culture (CAC) and Somerville’s Office of Immigrant Affairs host CAC’s 12th annual Arab American Festival and Book Fair at 81 Highland Avenue. Admission is free, and the city and the organizers describe it as an all-ages afternoon of music, dance, food, books and art celebrating Somerville’s Arabic community.
Note on the Andover cookout
The Andover Islamic Center’s free Fall Cookout that had been planned for earlier on October 10 was canceled. The Somerville festival is still on as scheduled from 3 to 8 p.m.
What is on the stage
CAC’s own program lists a clear performance schedule. From 3:30 to 4 p.m., the Nahda Project Dabkeh Troupe performs dabke, the stomping Levantine folk dance. From 4:30 to 5 p.m., the CAC Children’s Choir sings. The choir began on March 2, 2014, and CAC calls it the first Arab American children’s choir in Massachusetts; it works with children ages 5 to 15 on folkloric and contemporary Arabic songs, and it welcomes kids who do not already speak Arabic. At 5:15 p.m., a short “Her Story Is Poetry” reading in Arabic and English runs for about fifteen minutes. From 5:45 to 6:30 p.m., the Egyptian American Folklore Group presents tannoura, Saidi and other Egyptian folkloric dances. At 7 p.m., Palestinian American violinist, composer and producer Akram Abdulfattah closes the night with his quintet (violin, drums, keyboard, bass and saxophone). CAC notes that the 2026 U.S. tour is the quintet’s American debut; Abdulfattah was recently selected for a WOMEX 2025 showcase and has released albums including Live in London (2025) and Taqasim Kaman (2026).
Books, art, food and neighbors
Between the shows, the festival keeps the hall busy. Interlink Publishing presents the annual book fair, with readings by writers throughout the afternoon. Arab American artists exhibit work, and vendor tables sell crafts and other goods. CAC lists Arabic food from Mona Restaurant. If you keep a strict halal diet, ask at the table about meat suppliers and whether alcohol is used in cooking; festival food listings are not the same as a certified restaurant listing in our directory. Somerville’s announcement also says local advocacy groups and community organizations will staff resource tables, which makes the event useful if you are new to the area and want contacts, not only entertainment.
Getting there
Somerville High School sits at 81 Highland Avenue in Somerville. CAC says public and street parking are available around the school. The city’s notice adds that the event will be recorded by Somerville GovTV and posted later on the city’s YouTube channel with closed captions. For disability accommodations, Somerville’s ADA coordinator is at 617-625-6600 x2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov. Language interpretation through the city needs about seven days’ notice via languageaccess@somervillema.gov or 311.
About the organizer
CAC’s office is at 240 Elm Street, 2nd Floor, Somerville. Beyond the festival, the center runs Arabic language and cultural programs, including an in-person Arabic school at Lasell University in Auburndale. The festival is one of the clearest public windows into Arab American life in Greater Boston each fall: free, family-friendly, and built around local artists and publishers rather than a ticketed concert.
Know another community festival, masjid open house or halal food event we should cover? Tell us at masshalal.com/contact and we will check it for the Journal and the Events page.