Holiday Events
More information is being added as we get updates from all participating organizations!
Cats
Presented by The Seacoast Repertory Theatre
28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH
Friday, November 15 - Sunday, December 22, 2024
Bring the whole family to the Jellicle Ball! Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece, with a holiday twist!
Experience CATS as you've never imagined, now with a dash of grand Christmas extravaganza! Celebrating over 40 years of Andrew Lloyd Webber's timeless classic, this dazzling production continues to enchant audiences with its mesmerizing musical adventures of Jellicle Cats in the moonlight. Inspired by T.S. Eliot's whimsical "Book of Practical Cats," Webber's magical spectacle unfurls with acrobatic dance, breathtaking costumes, intricate puppetry, and unforgettable surprises. Both witty and wonderfully entertaining, CATS is the ideal holiday indulgence for all ages. Don't miss the perfect holiday treat for the whole family!
Presented by Ogunquit Playhouse at The Music Hall
28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH
Wednesday, November 27 - Sunday, December 22, 2024
Run Time: 2.5 hours including intermission
Opening Night: Friday, November 29
Experience the pure wonder of Broadway with Frozen, the Tony®-nominated Best Musical. From the renowned producer of The Lion King and Aladdin, this extraordinary production promises an unforgettable theatrical journey. Prepare to be captivated by a thrilling and genuinely moving performance that The New Yorker describes as “simply magical!” With sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes, and powerhouse performances, Frozen delivers a truly sensational and awe-inspiring experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to be swept away by the sheer joy of Broadway at its finest.
DISNEY’S FROZEN Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
Presented by Strawbery Banke Museum.
14 Hancock St, Portsmouth, NH
Friday, December 6, 13 & 20 2024, 5-9 PM 4:30-6:30 PM and 6:30-8:30 PM
Saturdays, December 7, 14, & 21, 2024 4:30-6:30 PM and 6:30-8:30 PM
Sunday, December 8, 15, & 22, 2024, 4:30-6:30 PM and 6:30-8:30 PM
Accessible & Sensory-Friendly Stroll on Sunday, December 15, 2024, 2 - 4pm
Member ticket sales begin on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 10 AM. Public ticket sales begin on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 10 AM.
Candlelight Stroll invites visitors to step into the past and experience 350+ years of seasonal and holiday traditions in the Puddle Dock neighborhood. The Museum’s furnished historic houses are adorned with handmade decorations created from greens and dried flowers from the Museum’s heirloom gardens. Visitors call upon the many families who once lived in the waterfront neighborhood – portrayed by costumed roleplayers – who share stories, customs, and seasonal traditions
While traveling from house to historic house, the glow of hundreds of candle lanterns and string lights illuminate the way as guests enjoy seasonal greetings from wandering musicians and performers who recreate the traditions of times past. Additionally enjoy hot apple cider, a warming bonfire, and Ice Dance International’s Currier and Ives Vintage Christmas Skaters for several performances each night of this treasured event. Performances by the Vintage Christmas Skaters are weather-dependent.
NEW! Create a winter-themed thaumatrope, a popular 19th-century optical illusion, and discover the history behind these fascinating toys as you craft your own. RETURNING! The Grove of Sponsored Holiday Trees returns to Puddle Dock and features dozens of holiday trees decorated by organizations throughout the community. For 2024, Candlelight Stroll is dedicated to the memory of Carol M. Monte. Carol, a beloved longtime friend of the Museum passed away on March 16, 2024. Carol and her husband George, whose handcrafted tin lanterns and ornaments have been a staple of the event, spent each holiday season at the Museum for Candlelight Stroll. Please note that parking is unavailable on-site for Candlelight Stroll as the small Museum lot is reserved for handicapped accessible needs on a first-come, first-served basis.
Event held in rain, snow, or starlight.
Presented by Portsmouth Historical Society.
10 Middle St, Portsmouth, NH
Friday, November 29 - Monday, December 30
FREE FOR ALL
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
10 AM - 5 PM
Recreate your favorite holiday memory out of gingerbread! It could be an indoor scene with everyone snuggled around a cozy fire, a candy cane tree farm, a poured sugar ice skating rink – anything that takes you back to a treasured moment. Infamous memories are welcome as well – the aftermath of an epic silly string fight, the time the turkey caught fire, any story that brings a smile to your face when you tell it is fair game.
A Tuna Christmas Presented by Players' Ring Theatre
105 Marcy St, Portsmouth, NH
Thursday, November 21 - Sunday, December 1
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30pm
In this hilarious sequel to Greater Tuna, it’s Christmas in the third-smallest town in Texas. Radio station OKKK news personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie report on various Yuletide activities, including the hot competition in the annual lawn-display contest. In other news, voracious Joe Bob Lipsey’s production of A Christmas Carol is jeopardized by unpaid electric bills. Many colorful Tuna denizens, some you will recognize from Greater Tuna and some appearing here for the first time, join in the holiday fun. A Tuna Christmas is a total delight for the Holiday Season, performed by two super talented quick-changing comedians!
Labrie Family Skate
Presented by Strawbery Banke Museum at Puddle Dock Pond.
14 Hancock St, Portsmouth, NH
Daily Public Skating, December-February
Enjoy the delight of outdoor ice skating at Strawbery Banke’s professionally maintained outdoor rink in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. Daily public skating. Private parties. Skating lessons. Skate rentals and sharpening services are available.
Online ticketing not yet available for the 2024-2025 season.
Winter Carnival with The Music Hall
Embrace the magic of the holiday season this year at our enchanting Winter Carnival, held on Chestnut Street in front of The Music Hall in downtown Portsmouth! As we bring Disney's FROZEN The Broadway Musical to life on stage, the festivities will spill out onto the street, turning Saturday, November 30, December 14, and December 21—into a winter wonderland. Join us before the 1:30 shows for a day filled with ice sculptures, a photo booth, sparkling light installations, and live Christmas carolers from the Sandpipers. Warm up by the gas firepits, sip on hot chocolate, and enjoy the festive atmosphere with family-friendly activities like "How to Build a Snowman". Whether you're a ticket holder or just strolling by, this free event offers something for everyone. Don’t miss out on holiday shopping with our exclusive merch sales, or simply soak in the sights and sounds of the season!
A very Soulful Christmas with Morgan James
Presented by Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club
135 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH
Saturday, November 30, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Once in a while you come across a vocalist who is so outstanding, so soulful, that just listening brings chills and a true appreciation for the artists gift. Morgan James is one such singer and songwriter, raves ROCK & BLUES MUSE.
Acclaimed Vocalist & Soul Singer MORGAN JAMES brings "A Very Soulful Christmas" sound & spirit to celebrate the season! Morgan James has a voice through which she can communicate anything. A gift bestowed upon her that she has expertly trained, meticulously nurtured, and passionately galvanized into action by an urgency to make real music. Next, the stories, and she has them in spades. They are full of truth and beauty, heartache and thoughtfulness. They reveal colors we weren't expecting to see. They make us close our eyes and relate. And finally, the soul, the emotional and intellectual energy through which these parts are fueled. Combine them with that special something and they make vocalist Morgan James a remarkable soul singer! With viral sensation Postmodern Jukebox, and her own channel, Morgan has amassed more than 250 million views on YouTube, (and climbing!). Ms. James is a phenomenal talent whose feel for classic soul music is bone deep," raves the NEW YORK TIMES.
Christmas Carol
Presented by Players' Ring Theatre
105 Marcy St, Portsmouth, NH
Friday, December 6 - Monday, December 23
An adaptation true to Dickens' charming, chucklesome, yet unforgettably haunting tale. Tailor-made for the Players Ring’s intimate setting, this holiday production embraces theatricality, a bit of sleight-of-hand, and narration by a pair of unlikely (and sometimes unwilling) fools.
Holiday Disco Vinyl Dance Party with The Glitter Boys in The Gallery at Jimmy’s
21+ Event
135 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH
Saturday, December 14 @ 8pm
Celebrate the season at our Holiday Disco Vinyl Dance Party featuring the amazing Live Vinyl DJs, The Glitter Boys, spinning classic disco throwbacks and holiday favorites.
Warren Wolf’s Christmas Vibes
Presented by Jimmy's Jazz Club
135 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH
December 17 @ 7:30pm
Warren Wolf is a versatile Baltimore-based musician with over 20 years of experience as a vibraphonist, drummer, and composer. He began his musical journey at age three, studying under his father and later attending the prestigious Peabody Preparatory. After high school at the Baltimore School for the Arts, he studied at Berklee College of Music under renowned vibraphonist Dave Samuels. Wolf has collaborated with notable artists like Christian McBride and Karriem Riggins and has led several recordings, including the R&B-infused Reincarnation and the breezy Convergence. He became an instructor at Berklee in 2003, teaching vibraphone, drums, and beginners' keyboard classes, while remaining active in Boston's jazz scene. Join us for an unforgettable evening of music featuring Warren Wolf on vibes, Imani Grace on vocals, Kevin Harris on piano, Max Ridley on bass, and Lee Fish on drums!
Stella Cole Holiday Show
Presented by Jimmy's Jazz Club
135 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH
December 23 @ 7:30pm
Stella Cole, the "rising star vocalist" (Jazziz) who released her self-titled debut album earlier this year, has returned with a holiday EP Snow! out now on La Reserve Records. The seven-song collection includes holiday favorites like 'It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas,' 'White Christmas,' and 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,' plus lesser-known classics like 'That's What I Want for Christmas' (originally recorded by Nancy Wilson) and 'Snow (feat. Darren Criss)' (written by Irving Berlin). The first five tracks feature gorgeous string arrangements by multiple GRAMMY winner Alan Broadbent (Natalie Cole, Diana Krall). The EP also features 'Christmas Dreaming,' which already has over 1M streams on DSPs. 'One of my favorite moments every year is sitting down with my family, hot chocolate in hand, to watch White Christmas and Meet Me in St Louis,' says Stella. 'Singing songs from those movies with a string orchestra was an absolute dream come true.'
Jane Monheit "Holiday Show"
Presented by Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club
135 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH
Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 7 PM
“The album is actually a tribute to two distinctive singers, one majestic voice from the past and one powerfully impressive songstress of today,” says ALL ABOUT JAZZ (2016 Album Review ‘The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald’).
2x-GRAMMY® Award Nominated Jazz Vocalist JANE MONHEIT has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of today's best and most important jazz vocalists. Monheit had been highly touted out of college, finishing runner-up in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Vocal Jazz Competition in 1998. Over the ensuing 20+ years, Monheit has solidified her status as an impeccable interpreter of the Great American Songbook, combining her love for traditional straight-ahead jazz and the more cinematic songs from theatre and stage. A vocalist with remarkable virtuosity and innate interpretative skills, Jane Monheit puts her own unique touch on jazz standards and any song she sings. Monheit has released 15 acclaimed albums over the course of her career. "On her latest album, Come What May, Monheit continues to dazzle positively intoxicating," states DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE (2021 Album Review of Come What May). "A voice of phenomenal beauty," raves the NEW YORK TIMES.
Abriebe Scharff's - Abby Holidays!
Hosted by The Music Hall Lounge
131 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH
Friday, December 20 @ 7 PM & Saturday, December 21 @ 8 PM
Abrielle Scharff is back in her hometown for her annual holiday show, Abby Holidays. Paired with candid and original lyricism, the sweetness of Abrielle’s sound doesn’t hinder her ability to convey genuine emotion. On stage, she is an open book with a mischievous sense of humor, like a stand-up comedian version of Stevie Nicks. Despite being a seasoned performer, the quality of Abrielle’s voice — unaffected, clear as a bell — gives the impression of effortlessness.
This is Abrielle’s 7th annual holiday show and very first year hosting it at The Lounge. She is very much looking forward to being back in her hometown, surrounded by friends and family (both on and off stage) during her favorite time of year. Join Abby in celebration as the night will be full of stunning renditions of your favorite seasonal songs, silly jokes, and a whole lot of love.
Juston McKinney's Comedy Year in Review 2024
Hosted by The Music Hall
28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH
Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 7 PM
Friday, December 27, 2024 at 7 PM
Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 4:30 PM
Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 8 PM
End the year with laughter as comedian Juston McKinney performs what have become annual must-see shows at The Music Hall!
Juston has multiple appearances on the Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien, and both a half-hour special and a one-hour special on Comedy Central. He also has two one-hour specials you can currently see right now on Amazon Prime! Throw in some appearances at the TD Garden for Comics Come Home, a Showtime special with Rob Gronkowski, and you can see why NH Magazine named him “Best of New Hampshire” and the New York Times called him “Destined for stardom.” Have the last laugh of 2024 with Juston as he uses multimedia to dish on his New England life and looks back at the year that was.
First Night Portsmouth
Presented by Pro Portsmouth
28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 from 2 PM to 8 PM
Pro Portsmouth became a member of the First Night Alliance in 1986 when it produced First Night Portsmouth on the Seacoast.
This celebration gives 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.
The date – never changes: December 31st!
Presented by Portsmouth Historical Society
10 Middle St, Portsmouth, NH
Saturday, January 4, 2025 from 1 PM to 3 PM
Now that the holidays are over, join the Portsmouth Historical Society for a smashing good time. It’s the inaugural Gingerbread Smash! If you have some post-holiday feelings you need to channel, we’ve got gingerbread houses that need to be disposed of. Register and smash a gingerbread house into oblivion.
Your support helps keep the annual Gingerbread exhibition free and accessible to all.
Thank you to EnviroVantage for providing personal protective equipment, sledgehammers, and waste removal. All debris will be composted by Mr. Fox.
Presented by Players' Ring Theatre
105 Marcy St, Portsmouth, NH
December 27, 28 & 29
Andrew Pinard's Discovering Magic is back! Andrew will act as the tour guide to the impossible and absurd, inviting you to explore the mystical and magical world of perception and deception. Audience members actively participate in the performance making every show a unique, interactive experience. Leave the mundane world behind and enter a magical realm where nothing is what it seems! “Magic occurs when audiences are engaged emotionally and intellectually in a gentle tug of war between what is possible and what may be possible. I think of the experience as transcending reality. The main tools in my bag of tricks are imagination and expectation, both of which are provided by the audience! Add a dash of psychology, a splash of technology, a bit of choreography, a gallon of showmanship and an enthusiastic, engaged audience and you have a unique experience that will be remembered forever.” Andrew Pinard
Presented by The City of Portsmouth
Market Square, Portsmouth, NH
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Market Square will be closed following the annual Holiday Parade until 9 pm. The City's retail community is excited to stay open later and create welcoming environments to connect with shoppers in a festive and more personal way.
New this year, stores are participating from noon - 9pm.
Thank you, Vintage Christmas Partners!
