City Notes Memorial Day Observances and Facility Closures

The City announces the following Memorial Day observances: 

• On Friday, May 22 at 11 am, the annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony will be held in Prescott Park by the anchor sculpture. The ceremony includes a musical performance by the Portsmouth Middle School Ensemble and a wreath-laying on the Piscataqua River to honor those service members lost at sea. This event will be held rain or shine.
• On Monday, May 25 at 1 pm, the City will host a Memorial Day/250th Commemorative Parade. The parade steps off from Parrott Avenue, turns onto Richards Avenue, and stops briefly to lay a wreath at the Logan’s Orders monument in South Cemetery on South Street. The parade then continues along South Street, to Junkins Avenue and concludes back on Parrott Avenue. Parts of Richards Avenue and South Street will be closed to parking and traffic during the parade. In the event of rain, a ceremony will be held in City Hall Council Chambers, located at 1 Junkins Avenue. 

The Recreation Department shared this message for residents along the parade route: “The parade will pass directly by your front doors and porches, and we hope you will help reflect the heart of Portsmouth by decorating and watching along the route. The City does not host a Memorial Day Parade every year, and a parade along Richards Avenue and this section of South Street is especially rare. We hope you will join us in honoring this important day.”

Any changes will be announced on the City’s website and via social media. For more information, see the Memorial Day Ceremony parade event on the City website: portsnh.co/Memorial_Day_2026.

City facilities and services will be affected for the Memorial Day holiday. There will be no trash and recycling pickup on Monday, May 25. Monday collections will be combined with Tuesday, May 26. Visit the City’s website for details. City Hall and other City buildings and facilities will be closed on Monday, May 25. Portsmouth Public Library and Community Campus will be closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 23 through 25.

Also of note, on Monday, May 25, 2026 at 10 am, the USS Albacore Submarine Memorial Park will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony.