Holiday Festivities
Celebrate the holidays in one of the world's Christmas capitals!
“For all the beauty Portsmouth offers during the summer, the holiday season just may be its finest time of year. The Christmas spirit you find here isn’t garish or overblown. It’s tasteful and subtle, more vintage than big-box store.” — Yankee Magazine
The holidays in New England are cozy and beautiful, and Portsmouth is no exception. Take a holiday tour around town, or drive through Portsmouth and its neighboring towns for Christmas lights sight-seeing and wintertime fun. See below for some of our recommendations of places to see and things to do!
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Please continue to check back for more details on Holiday activities.
4th Annual West End Holiday Shop Crawl
Visit shops in the West End on December 6!
Shop & Stroll Downtown Portsmouth
Join shop in downtown Portsmouth for festive fun, promos & more from 12-6pm on December 6
Port City Winter Makerspace Market
🗓️ Mark your calendars for Saturday December 6th from noon-4pm 🎄
Check out some of the great vendors who will be at the Winter Market, and stay tuned for more updates over the next few weeks!
Art 'Round Town Gallery Walk
The FIRST FRIDAY of every month, year round, downtown Portsmouth celebrates its inspired art community with big city style by presenting its Art ‘Round Town gallery walk.
As a thriving creative community rich in history, Portsmouth retains and honors its past while continuously cultivating an exciting contemporary art scene. Within its early-nineteenth century brick facades, cobblestone sidewalks, and streetscapes, the collective Portsmouth art galleries represent the work of international and national artists from as distant as Europe, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and as near as down the street.
Friday, December 5th from 5 PM to 8 PM.
Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting
December 6, 2025
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
First Night
Wednesday, December 31st from 2 PM to 8 PM.
History of First Night Portsmouth:
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. (And the date – never changes: December 31st)