Portsmouth Holiday Illuminated Parade and Tree Lighting

The theme of the 2018 holiday parade is Spirit of Portsmouth. Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 1st (rain date December 2nd), beginning with music in Market Square and then Mayor Blalock lighting the tree at 5:30 p.m. The parade follows at 6:00 p.m. stepping off from Islington/Summer Street.

All participants and spectators are encouraged to participate in the City’s annual food drive during the parade. Participants can bring food to the start of the parade for pick up by the student volunteers.  Parade spectators can drop food at the parade platform in Market Square or hand deliver their donation to the volunteers walking through the parade with shopping carts. Thank you to the Portsmouth High School students for volunteering their time to this worthy cause each year.