What's New

The City’s 2023 Annual Holiday Tree-lighting, Illuminated Holiday Parade and new Shop & Stroll event takes place on Saturday, December 2 with festivities starting at 2 pm. Each year the City selects a Grand Marshal who “best exemplifies the spirit of generosity and commitment to the community.” This year, Mayor Deaglan McEachern is pleased to announce that Steve Cirillo Portsmouth High School (PHS) performing arts coordinator and champion of the PHS and Portsmouth Middle School Holiday Ensemble since the early 1990s is the 2023 Grand Marshal.

The City Clerk announces that her office will start accepting applications on Monday, December 4, 2023 for the lottery to assign the twelve seasonal boat slips at Prescott Park for the 2024 season. The deadline for applying is Thursday, January 4, 2024. Go to the 2024 application package, 

The Citywide Neighborhood Committee’s Holiday Lights Contest has become a cherished tradition in Portsmouth as a way to give residents a reason to celebrate together this holiday season. Registration for this year’s decorating contest opens Friday, November 24.

The City’s 2023 Holiday Tree-Lighting and Illuminated Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 (this is a rain, snow, or shine event) starting at 5 pm. Portsmouth’s Tree Lighting ceremony takes place on the first Saturday in December each year from 5 to 5:30 pm, followed by the annual Illuminated Holiday Parade. The City’s Department of Public Works will begin installing the tree in Market Square on Monday, November 20 and continue decorating on the following day.

The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has approved the City’s property tax rate of $16.13 per $1,000 of valuation for Fiscal Year 2024. The tax rate is $0.93 more than Fiscal Year 2023, which results in the median single-family home valued at $480,100 paying $7,744 or $446 more this year. The newly approved tax rate will be reflected in the tax bills mailed in the next couple of weeks, with the first half due Thursday, December 28, 2023, and the second half due on Monday, June 3, 2024.

The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has approved the City’s property tax rate of $16.13 per $1,000 of valuation for Fiscal Year 2024. The tax rate is $0.93 more than Fiscal Year 2023, which results in the median single-family home valued at $480,100 paying $7,744 or $446 more this year. The newly approved tax rate will be reflected in the tax bills mailed in the next couple of weeks, with the first half due Thursday, December 28, 2023, and the second half due on Monday, June 3, 2024.

The Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Historical Archives plans a public information meeting at the Portsmouth Public Library on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. The program is scheduled for the library’s Levenson Room starting at 6 pm and is free and open to the public.

On Thursday, November 9, 2023 the City of Portsmouth Recreation Department invites all Portsmouth veterans and their spouses to a free pancake breakfast from 9 to 10:30 am at the Senior Activity Center at 125 Cottage Street. The Veterans Breakfast is an annual tradition in Portsmouth. To make the required reservation for the Veterans Breakfast, call 603.610.4433.

City of Portsmouth NH City Clerk Announces Use of Time-Saving Electronic Voter Check-in for Municipal Election

Portsmouth, New Hampshire – Portsmouth City Clerk Kelli Barnaby is pleased to announce that the City of Portsmouth will use electronic voter registration and check-in at Municipal Election polls on Election Day Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

City Clerk Kelli Barnaby has confirmed the polling hours for the City’s Municipal Elections on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. The polls will be open from 8 am to 7 pm.

Voting locations for Portsmouth voters are determined by the Ward in which they live. For a list of which streets are included in each Ward, visit: portsnh.co/votinginfo.

Ward locations for the November 7, 2023 election are as follows:

•     Ward One – New Franklin School, 1 Franklin Drive;