Pro Portsmouth Inc

TO CELEBRATE AND SUSTAIN THE VITALITY OF PORTSMOUTH'S ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORY THROUGH EVENTS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION.

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 60,000 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, CRASFTSPEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND FOOD VENDORS GREET THE THOUSANDS OF SEACOAST RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE AREA. 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 STRAWBERY BANKE.

'SUMMER IN THE STREET' IS THE RESULT OF AN INITIATIVE TO IDENTIFY/CREATE PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY AREAS DOWNTOWN WHERE MUSICIANS, DANCE AND THEATRE COMPANIES CAN ENTERTAIN FOLKS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. ACTIVITIES HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER NON-PROFITS ARE PART OF THE MISSION OF OUR 'STREET' SESSIONS.

FIRST NIGHT PORTSMOUTH - SINCE 1986, PORTSMOUTH HAS COME ALIVE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION - FEATURING MUSIC, DANCE, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES, 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. ENTERTAINMENT TAKES PLACE IN MANY OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS, CHURCHES AND CIVIC CENTERS. THIS IS A NON-ALCOHOLIC, NON-SMOKING AND FEATURES ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCES THAT APPEAL TO ALL AGES.

CHILDREN'S DAY - WHO SAYS CHILDREN AREN'T IN CHARGE? EACH YEAR ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF MAY, DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH BECOMES HEADQUARTERS FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES WITH THE CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN'S DAY. AN ESTIMATED 10,000+ "CHILDREN" VISIT PORTSMOUTH TO TAKE PART IN AN AFTERNOON OF FUN ON THE SEACOAST.THIS FESTIVAL COMBINES FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, ENTERTAINMENT AND USUALLY, AN ICE CREAM SUNDAE - ALL SPONSORED, HOSTED AND SUPPORTED BY THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS, AREA COMPANIES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE SEACOAST. FROM A CRUISE ABOARD THE M/V THOMAS LAIGHTON TO A HOOLA-HOOP CONTEST, THE DAY IS FILLED WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.