More information is being added as we get updates from all our participating organizations!
Photo courtesy of Michael Winters Photography.
Strawbery Banke Museum presents
Candlelight Stroll
Saturdays, December 3, 10, 17, 2022, 5-9 PM
Sundays, December 4, 11, 18, 2022, 4-8 PM
Strawbery Banke Museum • 14 Hancock St, Portsmouth, NH
Member ticket sales begin on Monday, October 24, 2022, at 10 AM.
Public ticket sales begin on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 10 AM.
Tickets and membership information is available at StrawberyBanke.org.
Last year’s event sold out!
Strawbery Banke Museum’s furnished historic houses are adorned with handmade decorations created from greens and dried flowers from the Museum’s heirloom gardens. Visitors call on the many families who once lived in the Puddle Dock neighborhood including the Shapiro family as they prepare for Hanukkah Celebration in 1919, The Goodwin family and servants as they prepare for a Victorian Christmas, as well as the Abbotts who await news of their soldier fighting in Europe in the Second World War.
While traveling from house to historic house, the glow of hundreds of lighted candle lanterns light the way and guests enjoy seasonal greetings from costumed roleplayers and performers who recreate the traditions of times past.
Be sure to catch Ice Dance International‘s Currier and Ives Vintage Skaters as they perform at Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond and stroll the Grove of Holiday Trees, numerous holiday trees decorated by members of the community and local businesses and organizations. Additionally, enjoy an old-fashioned holiday shopping experience at Pickwick’s at the Banke, the Museum store.
Event held in rain, snow, or starlight.
The Music Hall presents the Ogunquit Playhouse production of
Elf The Musical
Wednesday, November 30 – Sunday, December 18, 2022
The Music Hall • 28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH
Elf The Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern-day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner Elf.
Portsmouth Historical Society presents
The 32nd Annual Gingerbread House Contest
Friday, November 25 through Thursday, December 22
Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center • 10 Middle St, Portsmouth, NH
& Downtown scavenger hunt in retail storefronts near Market Square
Celebrate the sweetest season, by joining Portsmouth Historical Society for the 32nd Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition. Once again, everyone is getting a little sugar, as completed contestant creations are displayed in downtown shop windows.
Registration for gingerbread creations, as well as applications to be one of the downtown storefronts, open on September 25.
More information is coming soon!
Photo courtesy of LaBrie Media.
Strawbery Banke Museum presents outdoor ice-skating at
Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond
Daily Public Skating, December-February
Strawbery Banke Museum • 14 Hancock St, Portsmouth, NH
Target opening day for the 2022-2023 season (weather dependent): “Frozen Friday,” November 25, 2022, 9 AM.
Enjoy the delight of outdoor ice skating at Strawbery Banke’s professionally maintained outdoor ice-skating rink in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. Daily public skating. Private parties. Skating lessons. Skate rentals and sharpening services are available.
The Music Hall presents
Kat Wright
Saturday, December 3, 2022, 8 PM
The Music Hall Lounge • 131 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH
Kat Wright, Bob Wagner, and Josh Weinstein lean into their trio formation, showcasing their folky/rootsy selves, all stripped down, a triangulation of their strengths, their bareness, their imperfect humanness, their voices, their ferocious tenderness, their love of songs, and singing and story.
The Music Hall presents
Antje Duvekot
Thursday, December 8 2022, 7:30 PM
The Music Hall Lounge • 131 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH
Antje has extensive touring experience, criss-crossing the US and Europe many times. She is a compelling live performer and has been invited to play at some of the top festivals including The Newport Folk Festival, the Mountain Stage, Philadelphia, and Kerrville Festivals. Internationally, she’s headlined The Celtic Connections Festival in Scotland and the Tonder Festival in Denmark. She’s the winner of some of the top songwriting awards, including the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the prestigious, Kerrville (TX) “Best New Folk Award” and, in one of the nation’s top music markets, the Boston Music Award for “Outstanding Folk Act,” three of the top prizes in the singer-songwriter world.
Portsmouth Pro Musica presents
“Sleepers, Wake!” (Cantata no. 140)
Friday, December 9, 2022, 7:30 PM
St. Mary’s Church • 25 Chestnut Street, Dover, NH
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 7:30 PM
Immaculate Conception Church • 98 Summer St, Portsmouth, NH
This holiday season, Portsmouth Pro Musica presents J.S. Bach’s Cantata no. 140, “Sleepers, Wake!” This favorite chorale is performed in German with a chamber orchestra and soloists Maggie O’Neill and Fred Calcinari. Additional holiday pieces round out the program. Performances occur on Friday, December 9 at 7:30 PM at St. Mary’s Church in Dover, and Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 PM at Immaculate Conception Church in Portsmouth. Portsmouth Pro Musica is conducted by Artistic Director Priscilla Stevens French.
The Music Hall presents
Juston McKinney: A Year in Review 2022
December 26 & 27, 2022, 7 PM
December 28 & 29, 2022, 8 PM
The Music Hall • Historic Theater • 28 Chestnut Street
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 2022 with Juston as he uses multimedia to dish on his New England life and looks back at the year that was.
The Music Hall presents:
The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops!
Saturday, December 31, 2022, 8 PM
The Music Hall • Historic Theater • 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, NH
Ring in the new year in style with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s cheerful sounds. Guest conductor Dr. Dirk Hillyer and the PSO are pairing up again to ring in another New Year! They’ll be joined by special guest tenor Ben DiScipio, winner of Boston’s highest musical theater award, who brings a variety of talent in Broadway, operetta, and jazz to this year’s Champagne Pops! Audiences will enjoy favorites from Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter along with highlights from Les Miserables, Gypsy, and Carmen, and can expect Duke Ellington to “pop” in as well!
Pro Portsmouth presents:
First Night Portsmouth
December 31, 2022, 4-10 PM
Market Square • 14 Market Square, Portsmouth, NH
Since 1986, Portsmouth has come alive on New Year’s Eve with an annual celebration – featuring music, dance, children’s activities, street performers, and ice sculptures – known as First Night® Portsmouth.
First Night® Portsmouth affords 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. Entertainment takes place in many of our historic buildings, churches, and civic centers. The event is non-alcoholic and features activities and performances that appeal to all ages. Many area hotels offer special packages including First Night® buttons.
Presented by:
In partnership with
The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth
The City of Portsmouth
Portsmouth Historical Society
Yankee Magazine