Press Releases/What’s New

The City of Portsmouth is delighted to announce that the new Skate Park on Route 33 is substantially complete, and the public is now welcome to enjoy the latest recreational facility. The contractor will be removing construction-site fencing in the next few days. A formal ribbon-cutting and Grand Opening ceremony is anticipated in Spring 2024.

Once again the Citywide Neighborhood Committee Holiday Lights Contest received enthusiastic support, with 34 Portsmouth residents participating. Mayor Deaglan McEachern announced the winners at the December 18, 2023 City Council meeting.

The top three winners are:

Pro Portsmouth’s First Night™ 2024 taks place on Sunday, December 31, 2023 from 3 to 8 pm and includes ice sculpting in Market Square and a fireworks show at 7:30 pm at South Mill Pond.

The City of Portsmouth invites the public to attend the Inauguration for the Portsmouth City Council, Police Commission, Fire Commission and School Board to be held in Eileen Dondero Foley Council Chambers at City Hall on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7 pm.

The Inauguration program will include the National Anthem sung by the Portsmouth High School Singers, the posting of colors by the Portsmouth Police and Fire Department Honor Guards, and an invocation by Reverend Jennifer Mazur of North Church.

Portsmouth & Pease Drinking Water Status Report Q3 2023

Putting a new twist on the holiday tradition of encouraging downtown shopping, the City Council voted to approve three hours of free parking in the City’s Foundry and Hanover Garages. The free parking will run from Monday, December 11, 2023 through January 1, 2024 – an extension from last year’s nine days.

Downtown employees who use the City’s discounted parking in the Foundry garage will receive an additional three hours free of charge, if needed.

As is their annual holiday tradition, the City’s Welfare Office is collecting gift cards for families who have older kids that are not typically served by other gift donation programs in the City.

On a providentially mild November afternoon the City of Portsmouth returned fragments of remains thought to date to between 1820 and 1950 to North Cemetery. Their gravesites had been discovered when the wall bordering the Maplewood Avenue site of the cemetery was being rebuilt. The sites were not marked and work stopped immediately when the graves were disturbed.  

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.