News
City of Portsmouth NH announces parking and road closure details for Pro Portsmouth’s First Night Portsmouth on Dec. 31, 2025
PORTSMOUTH – Pro Portsmouth’s First Night 2026 takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 from 3 to 8 pm, culminating with the annual fireworks show at 7:30 p.m. at South Mill Pond. Artist Jeff Day and his team will create an ice sculpture in front of North Church between 2 and 4 p.m. The sculpture will remain on display into January.To facilitate a safe and entertaining First Night, the dog park, courts, and a large portion of the parking lot near the South Mill Pond Playground will close at 8 am on
City of Portsmouth NH Hosts Congress Street Project Public Information Meeting on Dec. 9, 2025
PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth NH Department of Public Works is hosting a public information meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 to explain plans for the Congress Street Construction Project anticipated to start on Jan. 5, 2026 and continue to mid-June. The meeting is scheduled for 6 pm in Conference Room A at City Hall (1 Junkins Ave.). To join via Zoom, visit the meeting page and use the registration link provided. This project is part of the Fleet Street Sewer Separation project required through the
Portsmouth NH mayor names Kevin Semprini as grand marshal of 2025 Illuminated Holiday Parade
PORTSMOUTH— The City of Portsmouth’s 2025 holiday festivities take place on Saturday, Dec. 6 starting with the Holiday Tree Lighting which begins at 5 p.m. with music from the Portsmouth Middle & High School Holiday Ensemble. At 5:30 p.m., the mayor officially marks the beginning of Portsmouth’s holiday season by flipping the larger-than-life switch in the middle of Market Square to light up the holiday tree. The Illuminated Holiday Parade steps off at 6 p.m. from Goodwin Park on Islington Street. Each year
Community Forum Highlights Challenges to Health Care Access
PORTSMOUTH - For Greater Seacoast Community Health, delivering on its health-care mission means staying a step ahead in an uncertain and fast-changing environment. And it’s not alone. “Now is a time of great confusion,” said Ally Mulligan, a Board member and patient of Greater Seacoast, explaining why the organization decided to host a Health Insights Forum on Nov. 19. “We thought that if we are confused as a Board, the whole community must be, and that Greater Seacoast could play a role in convening
City Officials and Kids Unite to Open Portsmouth’s New ADA-Compliant, Inclusive Playground
PORTSMOUTH—A dozen children, City officials and the project team gathered at the newly-imagined and fully accessible South Mill Pond Playground to cut the ribbon and officially open the playground, which is already enjoying steady use. Recreation Director Todd Henley and Assistant Director Brinn Sullivan recognized Mayor Deaglan McEachern, Assistant Major Joanna Kelley-Adams, Councilors Rich Blalock and John Tabor, City Manager Karen Conard and the team of Chris Martin from playground designer Ulti-Play
Portsmouth NH City Council Approves Holiday Gift of Three Hours of Free Parking in City Garages from Dec. 15 through Jan. 1, 2026
PORTSMOUTH – The Portsmouth NH City Council voted to approve three hours of free parking in the City’s Foundry and Hanover Garages from Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 through Jan. 1, 2026 to encourage enjoyment of holiday events, dining, and downtown shopping.Downtown employees who use the City’s discounted parking program in the Foundry Garage can receive an additional three hours free of charge.Parking meters and the timed parking ordinances will be unaffected. This encourages turnover in the use of the spaces to
City of Portsmouth NH Citywide Neighborhood Committee announces Annual Holiday Lights Contest - Registration opens Nov. 28
PORTSMOUTH– The Citywide Neighborhood Committee’s Holiday Lights Contest is a cherished tradition in Portsmouth because it gives neighbors another reason to celebrate together this holiday season. The Committee will create a map of the Holiday Lights Contest entries so residents and visitors can tour the houses.Registration for this year’s contest runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 14. Residents are invited to register to participate in the contest by completing the online form. Printable forms are also available on
City of Portsmouth NH Announces details for Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 Holiday Tree Lighting (5-5:30 p.m.), Illuminated Holiday Parade (6 p.m.)
PORTSMOUTH– The City of Portsmouth NH’s 2025 Holiday Tree Lighting and Illuminated Holiday Parade festivities will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 starting at 5 p.m. Portsmouth’s Tree Lighting ceremony takes place on the first Saturday in December each year from 5 to 5:30 p.m., followed by the annual Illuminated Holiday Parade.The City’s Department of Public Works installed the 35-foot tall blue spruce tree donated by the Fox Family of Rye, NH in Market Square on Tuesday, Nov. 18 and have decorated the
Seeking gift card donations suitable for kids ages 13 to 17
PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth, NH Welfare Office is continuing its annual holiday tradition by collecting gift cards for families with older children who are often not included in other gift donation programs in the City. Welfare Department Director Jodi Carnes said, “Local agencies who provide holiday assistance do a wonderful job here in Portsmouth, but teenagers can often be an overlooked population that we serve. To help close that gap, the Welfare Department is again collecting gift cards in
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34 Years, 700 Artists, One Timeless Tale: Players’ Ring Unveils Its Most Poetic ‘Christmas Carol’ Yet
PORTSMOUTH – Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is the most popular story about Christmas and definitely the most adapted of all time. Dozens of cinematic and theatrical versions have appeared across every medium, scale, and interpretation imaginable. The Players’ Ring Theatre will present this year’s production, adapted and directed by Ben Bagley, Dec. 5 through Dec. 28.“So, year after year, we inevitably ask ourselves: do we really need another Christmas Carol?” asked the Ring’s Executive Director
