Photo: Fireworks over the Boston Common at 7 p.m. Take the T! (Credit: Estormiz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Welcome to 2024, Belmont. This leap year will see Concord Avenue without a library or skating rink – come back in 2025 for their openings! – a vote on a large operational override and the election of a new select board member.
And 2024 is an Olympic year with Paris as the summer venue, the European Championships in football (soccer) will be played in Germany, while one of the most consequential Presidential elections will take place in November. Sadly, the town will lose two of its brightest business lights as Trinktisch and Craft Beer Cellar close its doors on the final day of Dec. 31.
The MBTA On New Year’s Eve: For everyone looking for a cheap and reliable way to attend First Night 2024 in downtown Boston to participate in the First Night Procession (at 5:50 p.m.) or attend the Family Fireworks display over the Boston Common (7 p.m.), here is what you need to know.
Service will be free on all systems after 8 p.m. Additional staff and ambassadors will be available to assist riders.
Service by System
- Subway will run on a Sunday schedule, with increased service after 3 p.m. Trains will run until approximately 3 a.m.
- Bus and The RIDE will run on a Sunday schedule.
- Commuter Rail will run on a weekend schedule. The T will hold the Fitchburg Line – which services Belmont and Waverley stops – at North Station until 12:45 a.m.
New Year’s Day
Commuter Rail will run on a weekend schedule.
Buses and subways will run on a Sunday schedule.
New Year’s Eve early closings:
- Star Market at 535 Trapelo Rd. closes at 9 p.m. The pharmacy closes at 5 p.m.
- CVS: The store at 264 Trapelo Rd. is closing at 10 p.m. (the pharmacy at 7 p.m.) and 60 Leonard St. at 10 p.m. (with the pharmacy shutting its doors at 5 p.m.)
- Starbucks at 110 Trapelo Rd. in Cushing Square will close at 5 p.m.
- Dunkin’ at 353 Trapelo Rd. is closing at 7 p.m., while the store at 52 Church St. is closing at 7 p.m. The store at 350 Pleasant St. will shut it down at 6 p.m.
- Craft Beer Cellar at 87 Leonard St. will be open until 9 p.m. The only exception is if the store sell through everything before 9 p.m.
New Year’s Day
Dunkin’
- The Dunkin’ at 353 Trapelo Rd. will be operating from 4:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
- The 52 Church St. location in Waverley Square will be open from 4:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- 350 Pleasant St. will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Starbucks
- The “Cushing Village” location at 110 Trapelo Rd. will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
CVS Pharmacy
- The store at 264 Trapelo Rd. will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- The operation at 60 Leonard St. in Belmont Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 1. The pharmacy on Trapelo Road is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Star Market
- Belmont’s supermarket, located at 535 Trapelo Rd., will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.