An event that started 30 years ago, Market Square Day in Portsmouth New Hampshire, continues to this day, even bigger and better than the original founders of this fabulous event could ever have allowed themselves to imagine!
Market Square Day was originally created to celebrate the revitilization and renovation of the downtown area of Portsmouth. Pro Portsmouth, which now organizes this yearly event, continues to bring thousands and thousands of people from all over the New England area to come see what Portsmouth is all about.
The first Market Square Day was quite local in nature - welcoming residents and families downtown to a small family town celebration. It was such an overwhelming success, this event was put on the following year, and every year thereafter.
I've been going to Market Square Day since the very first one, and I love each and every one! I must admit, I did miss a few years here and there, but I've been to about 75% of them, and it is such fun to see all the people who come to Portsmouth to celebrate what this wonderful town is all about!
For a number of years, I was a volunteer for some of the events surrounding Market Square Day. There is a 10K Market Square Day Road Race that starts the day off, along with an area chuch pancake breakfast. Then the downtown area fesitivities begin - loads of fun for people of all ages.
About 1,500 runners take part in the Road Race, which starts right in the heart of downtown. The race winds its way around town, and finishes at Strawberry Banke, where a huge hospitality tent awaits the runners with fruits, beverages, massages, and more.
Market Square Day in Portsmouth New Hampshire is all about food, fun, dance, live music, vendors, art, and more. There are several staging areas set up around the downtown area where live bands play throughout the day - talk about great music!
The music just makes your feet wanna get up and dance! All kinds of music can be heard throughout the day - great oldies music, folk music, big band sounds, and more.
This year, despite the drizzly dreary weather, it was estimated that about 60,000 people came to celebrate our gorgeous town. Not bad, not bad at all considering our population is about 23,000.
Enjoy the pictures from this year's Market Square Day, and if you can make it next year, I've no doubt at all that you'll have a great time as well. Market Square Day in Portsmouth NH is always the second Saturday each June.
Here's a picture of some yummy piping hot fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar -
<--- YUMMY!!!!
This food booth was selling their freshly-made to order delicious lobster rolls - FULL of lobster meat and NO fillers!!!
DELICIOUS!! --->
To see more about Portsmouth New Hampshire and the surrounding Seacoast areas, be sure to click on the picture below. This will take you to a great community tour.........ENJOY!! There are a number of pictures included in the tours in this link, so it may load a little slower on your computer - worth the wait!!
Ann Cummings, Maine and New Hampshire REALTOR
RE/MAX Coast to Coast
Portsmouth NH
ann@anncummings.com
888-349-5678 x 3839
Servicing the Coastal Areas of NH & Southern Maine
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