Home : Blogs : Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings : New Hampshire & Maine Real Estate >> Your Seacoast NH & Maine Homes Resource

Portsmouth NH's December Seacoast Area Fun!

2006 Christmas Tree in Downtown Portsmouth NH

The Christmas season here in Portsmouth NH is just full of fun events for kids of all ages! Merchants decorate their stores, city workers deck out the whole downtown area and it is just beautiful. And if we have a little dusting of snow, well that's just like the icing on the cake!

Our downtown Christmas tree and all the beautiful downtown lights will be officially turned on this Friday, Nov. 29th, at 6pm. If you're in the area, make sure to be downtown at 6pm for these fun festivities!

In addition to all these fun December Holiday events below, make sure to check out the list of Holiday Fairs and Festivals in the NH & Maine Seacoast areas. Most of them are on December 1st - have fun!!

Nov. 29 - "Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting" - Market Square in downtown Portsmouth will be the place to be at 6pm as local children will 'flip the switch' and light up our downtown Christmas tree. Musicians and choral groups will be there for some awesome holiday music!
Dec. 1 - "2007 Illuminated Holday Parade", this year's theme is celebrating "A Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth". Parade starts at 6pm from Plaza 800 and moves downtown. Portsmouth.
Dec. 1 - "Exeter Holiday Parade" starting at 5:30pm in downtown Exeter.
Dec. 1 - "A Holly Jolly Cabaret" put by The Sounds of the Seacoast women's a cappell chorus. Holiday songs, up-tunes and ballads will be performed at the Moose Club in Portsmouth, 3pm to 5pm.
Dec. 1 - "3rd Annual Festival of Gingerbread Houses" at the York Public Library in the center of York.
Dec. 1 - "Breakfast with Santa" from 8am to 11am at the Eliot Elementary School in Eliot. Have pictures taken with Santa, write Christmas wish letters.
Dec. 1 - "Tree Lighting Ceremony" in Hammond Park at 6pm in Eliot. Enjoy a visit from Santa and a sing-a-long with the Marshwood High School Choir.
Dec. 1 - "Annual Holiday Parade" starting at 3pm at Post Office Square through downtown Kittery. This year's theme is "A Tree-Mendous Holiday".
Dec. 1 - "Breakfast with Santa & Holiday Stories" from 8am to 10am at the York Public Library in York.
Dec. 1 - "Festival of Lights Parade", starting at 4:30pm in the center of York Village.
Dec. 2 - "Nutcracker with Ballet New England", 2pm at the York High School Auditorium in York.
Dec. 9 - "24th Annual Southern Maine Christmas Parade" starting at 2pm at the Wells Plaza in Wells. This year's theme is "The Night Before Christmas".
Dec. 16 - "The Holiday Pops" fabulous timeless and heartwarming holiday classics at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. 3pm and 7pm.

Christmas Tree Decorations

Now through Dec. 30 - "A Christmas Story", at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre, showtimes vary depending on the day. Portsmouth.
Dec. 1 & 2 - "A Christmas Carol" being performed at the Rochester Opera House in Rochester. 7pm on the 1st, and 2pm on the 2nd.
Dec. 1 & 2 - "Scrooge" on stage with live orchestra & lavish costumes, at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. 8pm on the 1st and 2pm on the 2nd.
Dec. 1 & 2 - "Open Studio Tours at the Button Factory", over 70 local artists and craftspeople open up their studios at the Button Factory on Islington Street from 11am to 5pm each day. Some great holiday shopping here in Portsmouth.

Dec. 1 & 8 - "An American Girl Holiday" at the American Independence Museum in Exeter. Step back in time and learn about celebrating Christmas just as they did in the "American Girl" series.
Dec. 1 through 16 - "Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll", stroll through the historic houses and buildings of Strawbery Banke from 4pm to 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Listen to history being told by volunteers dressed in period attire, music and refreshments served. Portsmouth.
Dec. 1 through 23 - "A Christmas Carol" being performed at The Player's Ring in Portsmouth, show times vary.
Dec. 21 & 22 - "25th Annual Christmas Guitar Concert with Ed Gerhard", 7:30pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church in downtown Portsmouth. Ed is Portsmouth's very own Grammy Award-winning guitarist.

Have fun and enjoy each of these wonderful events!

I wish you the happiest of holidays!!

Santa on a Motorcycle

~~ photos from flickr

Posted by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings on 11/28/2007 07:59 PM

Comments (17)

holiday events, seacoast, portsmouth nh, exeter, eliot, york, kittery

This post has been included in New Hampshire Information Rockingham County, NH Information Portsmouth, NH Information

17 Comments on Portsmouth NH's December Seacoast Area Fun!

I love your pictures Ann...awesome! I bet that Strawberry bank candlelight stroll is amazing.

11/28/2007 08:04 PM

by Monika McGillicuddy~NH Real Estate Broker (Prudential Verani Realty)

Ann, I LOVE the little Santa on a scooter! There is so much to see and do in your area. How neat! New Hampshire...where Christmas looks like Christmas should!

11/28/2007 08:33 PM

by Linda Scanlan (A Fan of AR)

Christmas in New England is just the greatest. It is always a special time.

11/28/2007 09:42 PM

by Jay McGillicuddy~Real Estate Broker (Prudential Verani Realty)

Hi Ann: What a beautiful post you have created. All the pictures are great. I love the Santa on the scooter... it gets great mileage. The ribbon on the tree is so pretty. The outdoor Christmas tree covered with snow is a sight I have not seen since I left Cleveland... I miss it so much. But... one question ? Just how did you talk Jason Crouch into dressing up as Santa Claus? You must be a very persuasive woman ! Thanks for sharing...

11/29/2007 01:31 AM

by Fort Worth Real Estate - - - Karen Anne Stone (RE/MAX Trinity)

Hi Monika - that Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke is just a delight. I've done that several times, and I've never gotten tired of it. The historic homes and buildings there are opened up, volunteers in period costumes are in each home telling the story of the home and the famillies that lived there, musical groups are scattered throughout, refreshments, and it's all just beautiful. If you get a chance to go, it's well worth it in my opinion.

Linda - isn't that picture cute?? I found that and was certain I could find a use for it. Yep, those of us who live here feel just that - "where Christmas looks like Christmas should".

Jay - it really is very special up here, just as Linda said!

Karen Anne - thank you! Jason as Santa - that's cute and funny! I had to go look at Jason's picture again and then come back to compare!

Thanks for the comments!
Ann

11/29/2007 06:15 AM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Ann,

Looks like fun fun fun!

11/29/2007 06:21 AM

by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)

Hi Neal - oh it will be for sure!! Just as Linda said, "Christmas as it should be"!! ;-)

Ann

11/29/2007 06:38 AM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

I wish we had something like the American Girl Event.

11/29/2007 06:59 AM

by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Realtor Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor)

Hi Missy - we also have a few other events that go on that take us back in time to the celebrations of old. The Candlelight Stroll in Strawbery Banke is one of those - and that is just a wonderful time to be able to go into all those historic homes and buildings and hear the history told by period-costumed volunteers.

The museum where the American Girl event takes place is a wonderful museum right in the heart of downtown Exeter, which is a historic town in itself.

Ann

11/29/2007 07:45 AM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Ann - That is quite the list of events, but isn't there a Patriots game that you left out in there?

11/29/2007 10:42 AM

by Ryan Martin - Bellingham Real Estate Agent (Windermere Real Estate / Whatcom Inc.)

Hey Ryan - you bet there's a game going on during some of that!! Somehow that alluded me when I was working on this.... ;-)

GO PATS!!
Ann

11/29/2007 12:10 PM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

What a great list of holiday activities. It's nice that some of the programs end later in December so visitors home for the holidays can take part in them too.

11/29/2007 09:25 PM

by Lola Audu~ Audu Real Estate~ Grand Rapids, MI Broker

Hi Lola - I agree! And I was pleased to find some closer to Christmas instead of all bunched up at the beginning of the month. Thanks for reading and commenting - I appreciate that!

Ann

11/30/2007 08:32 AM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Ann - If Christmas was not already booked for us your posts would have convinced us come and pay Portsmouth NH a visit.

11/30/2007 09:29 AM

by Kathy Clulow ASP® SRES® (RE/MAX Scugog Realty Ltd Brokerage)

Hi Kathy - well, maybe next year for Christmas then! Of course, you could come pay a visit any time and we'd welcome you and show you this awesome area! Enjoy your Christmas plans!!

Ann

11/30/2007 10:12 AM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Gee, it's a shame there isn't much going on up there for the holidays! Just teasin...maybe you should rename your town the North Pole! :) Great picture too! :)

11/30/2007 11:24 AM

by Shannon Lefevre Naples, Florida CRS (John R. Wood REALTORS Inc.)

Hi Shannon - that's a cute suggestion! I'm thinking the North Pole might be a heck of a lot colder there than it gets here though. Thanks for reading and commenting!

Ann

11/30/2007 02:45 PM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Leave a response…

Name:

Notify me of new comments:

Comment:

What does the graphic say?