What's New

The Citywide Neighborhood Committee’s Holiday Lights Contest is a cherished tradition in Portsmouth and it gives residents another reason to celebrate together this holiday season. Registration for this year’s contest opens Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The Committee will create a map of the Holiday Lights Contest entries so residents and visitors can tour the houses.

The Portsmouth NH City Council voted to approve three hours of free parking in the City’s Foundry and Hanover Garages from Monday, December 16, 2024 through January 1, 2025 to encourage enjoyment of holiday events, dining, and downtown shopping.

Downtown employees who use the City’s discounted parking program in the Foundry Garage can receive an additional three hours free of charge.

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.

The City of Portsmouth NH’s 2024 Holiday Tree Lighting and Illuminated Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 starting at 5 pm. Portsmouth’s Tree Lighting ceremony takes place on the first Saturday in December each year from 5 to 5:30 pm, followed by the annual Illuminated Holiday Parade.

The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works has begun preparations for the Winter 2024-25 season and reminds residents of the procedures for snow parking bans and ensuring safe winter weather operations for drivers, pedestrians, and City staff.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required that all public water suppliers, including the City of Portsmouth submit an inventory of the materials in water service lines by October 16, 2024. These service lines are the pipes that deliver drinking water from the public water mains to customers. The inventory requirement is part of the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revision.

On April 18 2022, the Portsmouth City Council authorized funds to create the Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan. Through the development of the Plan it became clear that local human services nonprofits suffered significant revenue losses due to negative impacts of COVID-19, while simultaneously having to expand the scope of their services to cover gaps that had not existed prior to the pandemic.

On Monday, November 11, 2024 City of Portsmouth offices, Recreation Department facilities and the Portsmouth Public Library will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. Trash collection will be combined with Tuesday collection and there will be no yard waste collected on either day. A parking holiday (no charge at on-street parking meters), will also be observed on Monday, November 11.

The leaves are falling and DPW is collecting yard waste during curbside pickups and at the Recycling Center. The DPW Stormwater Division suggests there are alternatives to raking and bagging. 

As part of its “Think Blue” public awareness campaign, the Division provides “Rake It or Leaf It?” best practices when it comes to autumn yard work (and has produced a YouTube video to make the point humorously: portsnh.co/rakeorleaf).

The City of Portsmouth Planning and Sustainability Department will host a Market Square Master Plan Public Meeting on Monday, November 4, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm in the Levenson Room at the Portsmouth Public Library (175 Parrott Avenue).