PRO PORTSMOUTH INC

MARKET SQUARE DAY, TRADITIONALLY HELD ON THE SECOND SATURDAY IN JUNE EACH YEAR, WAS FIRST CELEBRATED IN 1978. CREATED TO MARK THE RENOVATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH AND IN PARTICULAR MARKET SQUARE, THE FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO GROW IN POPULARITY AND IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER ON THE SEACOAST, ENTICING AN ESTIMATED 50,000 TO ENJOY THIS DESTINATION FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH.THE EVENT FEATURES REGIONAL ARTISTS, MUSIC AND DANCE, THE HISTORY OF THE CITY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS TRANSFORMED INTO A PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY SPACE AS STREETS ARE CLOSED FROM 9:00AM THROUGH 4:00PM. ENTERTAINMENT STAGES, CRAFTSPEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND FOOD VENDORS GREET THE THOUSANDS OF SEACOAST RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE AREA.THE DAY BEGINS WITH THE MARKET SQUARE DAY 10K ROAD RACE, WHICH WINDS ITS WAY THROUGH THE STREETS OF PORTSMOUTH. PRO PORTSMOUTH, INC. HAS PRODUCED THE FESTIVAL FOR 48 YEARS AND LIKE THE EVENT ITSELF, CELEBRATES THEIR ANNIVERSARY EACH YEAR ON THIS MOST FESTIVE OF OCCASIONS.EACH YEAR, THE 10K ROAD RACE GETS THE MARKET SQUARE DAY CELEBRATION OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT. WITH A STARTING LINE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH, THE RACE TYPICALLY DRAWS 1,000 RUNNERS WHO WIND THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STREETS OF PORTSMOUTH ENDING WITH THE FINISH LINE AT HISTORIC STRAWBERRY BANKE.

FIRST NIGHT PORTSMOUTH - SINCE 1986, PORTSMOUTH HAS COME ALIVE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION FEATURING FIREWORKS AND ICE SCULPTURE KNOWN AS FIRST NIGHT PORTSMOUTH.FIRST NIGHT PORTSMOUTH AFFORDS OUR COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE, REFLECTING ON THE YEAR THAT HAS PASSED AND LOOKING FORWARD WITH HOPE AND GREAT ANTICIPATION TO THE YEAR AHEAD.