Portsmouth Area Annual Events
ON-GOING EVENTS
- Art 'Round Town gallery walk, First Friday's of every month (www.artroundtown.org)
- Portsmouth Harbour Trail guided walking tours, Memorial Day to mid-October. Private group tours & step-on guide service available year-round
- Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail self-guided walking tours
- Historical Tours of The Music Hall: An American Treasure for the Arts
- Portsmouth Farmers' Market, City Hall Plaza, Saturdays, May - November
- Open Houses at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse
- Live Music every night of the year (www.seacoastmusicscene.com)
- Brewery Tours at Smuttynose Brewing Co.; and Redhook Ale Brewery
- Cosmic Bowling, Bowl-O-Rama Family Fun Center, Fridays & Saturdays
- Art exhibits & lectures at Strawbery Banke, the Discover Portsmouth Center, Portsmouth Athenaeum, Portsmouth Public Library, Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion and other venues
- Performances & shows at Seacoast Repertory Theatre, The Music Hall, Prescott Park (June-August), Pontine Theatre, Player's Ring and other venues
JANUARY 2011
- Winter Wine Festival, Wentworth by the Sea, January - February
FEBRUARY 2011
- Family Mardi Gras Celebration, The Children's Museum of New Hampshire, Dover
- Kate the Great Imperial Stout release party, The Portsmouth Brewery
MARCH 2011
APRIL 2011
- New England Paddlesports Show presented by Kittery Trading Post
- Jazzmouth jazz & poetry festival, downtown Portsmouth
MAY 2011
- 20th Anniversary Annual Kitchen Tour to benefit the Music Hall, May 7th, 10:am to 3:00pm
- Portsmouth Sustainability Fair, May 14th, 10:00am to 3:00pm
- Children's Day, First Sunday in May each year, May 1st, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Mother's Day Flower Sale, Fuller Gardens, North Hampton
- Lilac Festival, Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, May 28th, 10:00am to 3:00pm
- Handa Cup presented by The First Tee of NH, May 19-22, 2011
- Redhook/Runner's Alley 5K Road Race, May 29th
- Historic Houses open for the season, Memorial Day weekend
- Harbor Cruises season (May to October): Portsmouth Harbor Cruises, Isles of Shoals Steamship Co., and Tug Alley Too
- Whale Watching Tours, Newburyport Whale Watch, MA
- Tall Ships Arrive, Commercial Fish Pier, Memorial Day Weekend
JUNE 2011
- Chowder Fest, Prescott Park, June 4th, 11:30am
- Piscataqua Waterfront Festival, June 4th
- Market Square Day & 10K Roadrace, presented by Pro Portsmouth, Inc., Second Saturday every June, June 11th
- Flag Day Observance & Picnic,Wentworth-Gardner House, June 18th, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
- New Castle Village Walk & Garden Tour to benefit Pontine Theatre, June 12th, 1:00pm to 4:30pm
- Taste of the Nation Portsmouth culinary showcase, June 22nd
- Prescott Park Arts Festival, June-August
- SummerFilm at The Music Hall, June-August,
- Summer in the Street, presented by Pro Portsmouth, Inc., Saturday evenings
JULY2011
- Prescott Park Arts Festival, Wednesday through Sundays, June, July, and August
- Independence Day fireworks, South Mill Pond, Portsmouth, July 3rd, 9:15. Rain Date: July 5th
- An American Celebration! at Strawbery Banke, Fourth of July festivities, July 4th, 10:00am to 5:00pm
- American Independence Festival, American Independence Museum, Exeter, July 16th, 10:am to 5:00pm
- John Paul Jones' birthday celebration, John Paul Jones House, Portsmouth, July 10th, 2:00pm to 5:00pm
- Seacoast Repertory Theatre's Bow Street Fair, Portsmouth
- Garden Party, Fuller Gardens, North Hampton, July 13th, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
- Music by the Sea Outdoor Concert Series, Seacoast Science Center, Odiorne Point, Rye, July & August
- "Walk with Washington," Gov. Langdon House, Portsmouth, July 22nd, 11:00am to 2:00pm
AUGUST 2011
- Prescott Park Arts Festival, Wednesday through Sunday, June, July, and August
- Boston Portsmouth Air Show-Featuring the Thunderbirds, August 13th and 14th
SEPTEMBER 2011
- Portsmouth Peace Treaty commemorative bell ringing, September 5th, 3:47pm
- Jumper Classic, Silver Oak Equestrian Center, Hampton Falls, NH, September 14th
- Hampton Beach Seafood Festival, September 9th-11th
- Telluride by the Sea film festival, The Music Hall, September 23rd-25th
- *NEW* NH Fish & Lobster Festival, Prescott Park, September 24th, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Fairy House Tours, various Portsmouth gardens & historic homes, September 17th and 18th, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Jackson Hill Cider Day, Jackson House, Portsmouth, September 10th, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Portsmouth Criterium bicycle race & lifestyle expo, September 18th
- Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival, Market Square, September 24th and 25th
OCTOBER 2011
- Scarecrows of the Port, festive displays throughout Portsmouth
- *NEW* NH Brew Fest, Redhook Ale Brewery, October 15th, 1:00pm
- Prescott Park Chili Cook-Off and NH Fall Festival at Strawbery Banke, October 8th, 11:30am
- New Hampshire Film Festival, various Portsmouth venues, October 13th-16th
- Portsmouth Halloween Parade
- Ghosts on the Banke, Strawbery Banke Museum, October 28th & 29th, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
NOVEMBER 2011
- Veterans' Day Observance, American Independence Museum, Exeter
- Restaurant Week Portsmouth, various participating Seacoast area restaurants
DECEMBER 2011
- Portsmouth Illuminated Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting, Market Square, First Sunday in December, 5:00pm
- Holiday Doors of Portsmouth
- "Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth," throughout December
- - Candlelight Stroll and Holiday House Tours at Strawbery Banke Museum
- Holiday shows at The Music Hall
- Special packages at area hotels
- First Night® Portsmouth, presented by Pro Portsmouth, Inc.