Special Events & Trips

Pizza, movie and play time in the gym while parents get a night without the kiddos!

5:00-8:00pm. $20 residents | $25 nonresidents. Location: Community Campus.

• Fall: Friday, November 17
• Winter: Friday, December 22

Kids shoot FOWL shots to try to bring home a Thanksgiving "Surprise". The best shooter in each division wins a prize! Please bring a non-perishable food item to enter the contest to be donated to our local food pantry. No pre-registration required.

• Saturday, November 18 at the Connie Bean Gym

Grades K-1 at 9:00am | Grades 2-3 at 10:00am | Grade 3-4 at 11:00am.

Event is free, but we ask everyone to bring donations for our annual food drive.

Santa Claus has again asked the Recreation Department to act as one of his mail carriers.

Send letters to:

North Pole, c/o Portsmouth Recreation,100 Campus Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801

Or drop them off in Santa's mailbox in the lobby at the Campus. December 1-20.

FREE!

Don't forget to include your return address so Santa knows where to mail his reply.

Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting 2023 is Saturday, December 2, 2023.

The Portsmouth Holiday Parade is an annual favorite for people across the seacoast! The parade takes place each year on the 1st Saturday of December. The event is free and open to all. The evening begins in Market Square with the Mayor and City Council hosting the Tree Lighting Ceremony from 5:00-5:30pm. The parade then kicks off at 6:00pm and marches down Islington St., arriving in Market Square approximately 20-30 minutes later.

Check out the Holiday Parade Page for all the information.

Wednesday, December 6 at 4:30pm

Calling all Grandparents to bring your grandkids of any age to craft a gingerbread house together – all ages welcome.

Location: Senior Activity Center

$5 per family. RSVP required: 603-610-4433 or CLICK HERE

Celebrate the holiday season in style with the Recreation Department's Trip to see the Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker. Amazing costumes, enchanting scenery and beautiful dancing will make this a evening to remember. The bus departs from the Senior Center at 125 Cottage St. at 5:30pm for a 7:30pm show. Ticket price includes an orchestra level seat and round trip transportation. 

Age: All Ages
Dates: 12/09/2023 - 12/09/2023
Day/Time: Sat 5:30PM - 11:00PM
Fee: Res: $65.00 Non-Res: $70.00 (for 1 sessions)

Wonderful two-day getaway at the scenic White Mountains Hotel & Resort in North Conway.

• Sunday, December 10 - Monday, December 11. Departing 9:00am Sunday, home 3:30pm Monday.
• Double $445 | Single $545

THIS TRIP ALWAYS SELLS OUT - BOOK ASAP!

Flyer available at Senior Activity Center with full itinerary. Call or stop by for more info: 603.610.4433

• SANTA’S CREATORS' CLUB for Ages 4-6: Saturday, December 16 from 10:00am-12:00pm | $24 | Location: Community Campus
• HOW THE GRINCH STOLE BRICKS Ages 5-10: Saturday, December 16 from 1:00-3:00pm | $24 | Location: Community Campus

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Come see the Boston Celtics take on the Detroit Pistons over Winter Break!

The bus leaves from the Senior Center at 125 Cottage St. at 5:30pm for the 7:30pm game. Price includes a balcony level seat, round trip transportation and gratuities.

Age: All Ages
Date: 12/28/2023
Day/Time: Thu 5:30PM - 11:30PM
Fee: Res: $110.00 Non-Res: $125.00 

Come see the Boston Bruins take on the New Jersey Devils!

The bus leaves from the Senior Center at 125 Cottage St. at 11:00am for a 1:00pm game. Price includes a balcony level seat, round trip transportation and gratuities.

Age: All Ages
Dates: 01/15/2024 - 01/15/2024
Day/Time: Mon 11:00AM - 6:00PM
Fee: Res: $125.00 Non-Res: $130.00 

Saturday, February 10 from 6:00-8:00pm. Location: Community Campus Gym

$20 per family | $25 at the door. Light refreshments served.

Walk the family down the red carpet to your photo shoot and then dance the night away with the DJ spinning your favorite hits. Come dressed to impress and in your dancing shoes.

REGISTER HERE

Portsmouth’s annual tribute to the love we have for our community!

Let’s show ourselves, each other, and our community some love as we decorate the tree in Market Square with Valentines.

Valentines can be dropped off or mailed to Community Campus, 100 Campus Drive, Portsmouth.

• Hearts available online, at the senior center or at the campus as of January 29.
• Deadline to submit heart is Wednesday, February 7.
• Hearts hung on the tree between February 9 and February 14.