Downtown Waltham Partnership

Downtown Waltham Partnership is a membership organization working to make downtown Waltham friendly, diverse, safe, sustainable and thriving. Its members include businesses, cultural groups, social service nonprofits, downtown residents and elected officials, and anyone who lives, works or shops downtown is invited to join. The group promotes the area as a cultural, retail and entertainment destination with restaurants, shops, museums, educational offerings and cultural nonprofits, and it encourages a wide variety of businesses to locate there.

Much of its work is hands-on. The partnership organizes volunteer efforts to improve the commercial district, supports historic preservation of Waltham’s older buildings, works to improve the streetscape and helps business and property owners with renovation and development projects. It also aims to make downtown cleaner, greener and more pedestrian oriented while enhancing the city’s natural resources. Its message is that downtown offers an authentic urban experience shaped by ethnic diversity, historic layers and cultural vibrancy.

What to Know

• The partnership sponsors the Watch City Steampunk Festival, a free all-day outdoor event on the Waltham Common.
• The festival features two music stages, a crafts marketplace, multicultural food and activities on and around the Charles River.
• Vendors, performers and volunteers can sign up to take part in the festival.
• The partnership is listed with the Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce.