What's New

The City of Portsmouth is delighted to announce that the new Skate Park on Route 33 is substantially complete, and the public is now welcome to enjoy the latest recreational facility. The contractor will be removing construction-site fencing in the next few days. A formal ribbon-cutting and Grand Opening ceremony is anticipated in Spring 2024.

Once again the Citywide Neighborhood Committee Holiday Lights Contest received enthusiastic support, with 34 Portsmouth residents participating. Mayor Deaglan McEachern announced the winners at the December 18, 2023 City Council meeting.

The top three winners are:

Pro Portsmouth’s First Night™ 2024 taks place on Sunday, December 31, 2023 from 3 to 8 pm and includes ice sculpting in Market Square and a fireworks show at 7:30 pm at South Mill Pond.

The City of Portsmouth invites the public to attend the Inauguration for the Portsmouth City Council, Police Commission, Fire Commission and School Board to be held in Eileen Dondero Foley Council Chambers at City Hall on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7 pm.

The Inauguration program will include the National Anthem sung by the Portsmouth High School Singers, the posting of colors by the Portsmouth Police and Fire Department Honor Guards, and an invocation by Reverend Jennifer Mazur of North Church.

As is their annual holiday tradition, the City’s Welfare Office is collecting gift cards for families who have older kids that are not typically served by other gift donation programs in the City.

On a providentially mild November afternoon the City of Portsmouth returned fragments of remains thought to date to between 1820 and 1950 to North Cemetery. Their gravesites had been discovered when the wall bordering the Maplewood Avenue site of the cemetery was being rebuilt. The sites were not marked and work stopped immediately when the graves were disturbed.  

The City’s 2023 Annual Holiday Tree-lighting, Illuminated Holiday Parade and new Shop & Stroll event takes place on Saturday, December 2 with festivities starting at 2 pm. Each year the City selects a Grand Marshal who “best exemplifies the spirit of generosity and commitment to the community.” This year, Mayor Deaglan McEachern is pleased to announce that Steve Cirillo Portsmouth High School (PHS) performing arts coordinator and champion of the PHS and Portsmouth Middle School Holiday Ensemble since the early 1990s is the 2023 Grand Marshal.

The City Clerk announces that her office will start accepting applications on Monday, December 4, 2023 for the lottery to assign the twelve seasonal boat slips at Prescott Park for the 2024 season. The deadline for applying is Thursday, January 4, 2024. Go to the 2024 application package, 

The Citywide Neighborhood Committee’s Holiday Lights Contest has become a cherished tradition in Portsmouth as a way to give residents a reason to celebrate together this holiday season. Registration for this year’s decorating contest opens Friday, November 24.

The City’s 2023 Holiday Tree-Lighting and Illuminated Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 (this is a rain, snow, or shine event) starting at 5 pm. Portsmouth’s Tree Lighting ceremony takes place on the first Saturday in December each year from 5 to 5:30 pm, followed by the annual Illuminated Holiday Parade. The City’s Department of Public Works will begin installing the tree in Market Square on Monday, November 20 and continue decorating on the following day.