City Announces Parking and Road Closure Details for Pro Portsmouth’s First Night Portsmouth December 31, 2025

Pro Portsmouth’s First Night 2026 takes place on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 from 3 to 8 pm, culminating with the annual fireworks show at 7:30 pm at South Mill Pond. Artist Jeff Day and his team will create an ice sculpture in front of North Church between 2 and 4 pm. The sculpture will remain on display into January.

To facilitate a safe and entertaining First Night, the dog park, courts, and a large portion of the parking lot near the South Mill Pond Playground will close at 8 am on December 31st to allow for safely staging the fireworks. Parking on the entire length of Parrott Avenue is prohibited from 3 pm until 9 pm on December 31st and the road will be closed to vehicular traffic from approximately 7 to 8 pm. “No Parking” signs will be posted on Parrott Avenue and vehicles parking in the posted areas will be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.

Twenty-five supplemental ADA-accessible parking spaces will be reserved in the Portsmouth Public Library parking lot from 12 to 9 pm. To take advantage of these spaces, vehicles must enter Parrott Avenue prior to 7 pm as the road is closed from 7 to 8 pm.

Regular downtown, on-street and municipal lot metered parking rates are in effect from 9 am to 8 pm on Wednesday, December 31. The three-hour resident discount holiday in the Foundry and High Hanover garages is in effect through January 1, 2026.

For more information about First Night Portsmouth, visit proportsmouth.org.

CAPTION: The artwork chosen for the First Night 2026 logo was created by Katelyn Souphakhot, Development & Marketing Director at the Seacoast Community School.