Mayor Names Eli George as Grand Marshal of 2024 Illuminated Holiday Parade

The City of Portsmouth’s 2024 holiday festivities take place on Saturday, December 7 starting with the Holiday Tree Lighting which begins at 5 pm with music from the Portsmouth Middle & High School Holiday Ensemble. At 5:30 pm, the Mayor officially marks the beginning of Portsmouth’s holiday season by flipping the larger-than-life switch in the middle of Market Square to light up the holiday tree. The Illuminated Holiday Parade steps off at 6 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 Eli George, a Portsmouth High School senior and the Founder and Operations Director of B3 Basketball, is the 2024 Portsmouth Illuminated Holiday Parade Grand Marshal.

B3 Basketball is an initiative led by three high school students designed to foster a strong community by encouraging kids to build their confidence and passion through basketball. The B3 Youth Clinic has worked with Mayor McEachern, Portsmouth elementary schools, Portsmouth High School, and local organizations. This past spring at the Portsmouth Youth Wellness Coalition conference, Governor Sununu congratulated Eli on his presentation to the group on the B3 program. The B3 Youth Clinic has successfully lobbied for a basketball court renovation in Gosling Meadows where the program takes place and is now partnering with local business Limited Hype on the Sneakers For All project designed to raise $20,000 to donate new sneakers to kids at Gosling Meadows. 

B3 Founder and Operations Director Eli George said, “I began playing basketball in elementary school as it was an environment where people from all backgrounds and places in life could come together. As I continued to play basketball in middle school I started working at a local elementary school aftercare program, leading sports clubs where kids can play games and have a good time. While coaching a fifth grade basketball team with B3, I learned lifelong skills from my players that I will never forget.”

In making the announcement, Mayor McEachern said, “Eli George is an inspiring young leader showing all of us how to open doors to members of our community who might otherwise not get the spotlight. As the theme of this year’s parade is ‘Let it Glow!’ I can think of no one better to exemplify lighting the way for kids to build their confidence and friendships through the teamwork of sports. Eli is one of those champions for our City of the Open Door. He makes sure we hold that door open and let the lights shine brightly, whenever and wherever we can.”

Eli George will be escorted through the parade by a school bus courtesy of Student Transportation. He will be joined by many of his co-volunteers and B3 participants and once he arrives in Market Square he will watch floats, marching bands, fire trucks, thriller dancers and of course, Santa Claus riding atop Portsmouth Fire Department’s ladder truck to kick off the holiday season in Portsmouth.

For more parade information, including how to participate as a unit, please contact parade coordinator, Brinn Sullivan at (603) 767-2697 | parade@cityofportsmouth.com.

CAPTION: Portsmouth NH Mayor Deaglan McEachern (right) congratulates Portsmouth High School senior Eli George on being named Grand Marshal of the 2024 Portsmouth Illuminated Holiday Parade.