Yearly Events
Listed below are the events the Recreation Department holds throughout every year. The date listed is for the next time this event will happen. For more information on these events, please see the event calendar page, or call the Recreation Department at 427-1547.
Father-
Daughter Valentine's Day Dance
The Portsmouth Recreation Department cordially invites all girls in grades K-5 and their dads (or any other special adult!) to attend our 26th Annual Father-Daughter Valentine Dance on Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 6:00-8:30 pm at the Portsmouth Middle School Cafeteria.
Easter Egg Hunt
Come join the Recreation Department in an old fashioned Easter Egg Hunt, to be held on Saturday, April 4, 2020. The hunt is held at Langdon Park, located across from City Hall on Junkins Ave. During the hunt there will also be face painting, activities and a visit from the Easter Bunny! There will be separate hunts for preschoolers and for children in grades K-2.
Click Here for more information!
Mother-Son Dance 
The Portsmouth Recreation Department will be sponsoring a Mother-Son Dance on Saturday, May 10, 2020 from 6:00-8:00pm at the Portsmouth Middle School Cafe. All mothers (or any other special adult!) and sons in grades K-5 are invited to attend. Cost is $15 per couple and includes team eye black stickers for all.
Click Here for more information.
2020 Summer Registration
The Recreation Department will be moving our Summer Registrations to the end of March. We also hope to have online registration up and running by then.
Stay tuned for more information!
Fourth of July Fireworks 
The City of Portsmouth and Wilcox Industries will be sponsoring the annual fireworks display on Friday, July 3, 2020 at the South Mill Pond across from Portsmouth City Hall beginning at 9:15pm. (Rain date is Sunday, July 5 at 9:15pm). Portsmouth has a long-standing tradition of hosting one of the seacoast area's finest fireworks displays!
Senior Center Summer Cookout
The 2020 Senior Center Summer Cookout will hopefully be taking place at the New Senior Center! Stay tuned for more information.
Special thanks to Wentworth Senior Living for their sponsorship of the Senior Luncheon Program.
New York City Family Shopping Day
Saturday, November 9, 2019. Come with your family or friends and spend the day in New York City for holiday shopping and sightseeing. Children are welcome on this trip but must be accompanied by an adult. We will depart from Portsmouth High School at 5:30am and return at approximately 12:00am. Cost is $80 per person and includes round trip deluxe coach bus service.
Senior Center Thanksgiving Lunch & Craft Fair
Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 12:00pm at the Community Campus Gym. Arrive anytime after 10:30am to socialize. Reservations are required by calling the Senior Activity Center at 603-610-4433.
Special Thanks to Wentworth Senior Living for their sponsorship of the Senior Luncheon Program.
Turkey Shoot
Join the Portsmouth Recreation Department for the 28th annual Turkey Shoot on Saturday, November 23, 2019 from 9:00am-12:00pm. This event is for Portsmouth Residents only. Admission is FREE, but we ask everyone to bring a non-perishable food item that will be donated to a local food pantry.
This year the kids will bring home the turkey! Children grades K-5 are divided by grade and shoot basketball FOWL shots to try and win a big turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner!
Letters to Santa 
Write a letter to Santa Claus between December 1-20 and receive a personalized letter in your mailbox from Santa!
Please send your letters to:
Santa Claus, North Pole 155 Parrott Ave. Portsmouth, NH 03801
Portsmouth Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
Join the Mayor and Portsmouth City Council to ring in the Holiday Season!
Saturday, December 7, 2019
The Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 5:20pm in Market Square, with the tree itself lit at 5:30pm. The parade begins its march down Islington St. at 6:00pm.
For more information visit the Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting page.