What to Expect at Market Square Day in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

My favorite weekend as a Portsmouth resident is here, and no, I am not exaggerating.

No, you do not need to be from Portsmouth to enjoy this incredible weekend. You just need to GO to Portsmouth.

That’s right, Market Square Day is back for its 47^th year on Saturday, June 8, 2024.

Starting in 1978, Market Square Day was “created to celebrate the renovation and beautification of Downtown Portsmouth and, in particular, Market Square,” according to the Market Square Day event page.

The exciting weekend will bring 60,000 people downtown for entertainment, artists, crafters, merchants, and more, according to the website.

Because Market Square Day is an enormous event, there is NO RAIN DATE. Rain is forecasted for this Saturday, June 8, but that will not slow down or stop the event from taking place. RAIN OR SHINE.

If this is your first Market Square Day, what should you expect?

A lot.

First and foremost, traffic. Expect a lot of roads closed or detoured around downtown. Most of downtown Portsmouth is shut down for pedestrians, according to the website. To see what roads will be closed, check out the closure page here.

This street will not be visible. It will be mobbed with good vibes and good times.

Getty Images

The day starts with a 10K, so expect to feel bad about yourself. Kidding. There will be a race in the AM, though, so be prepared.

From 9am – 4pm, there will be over 150 vendors, as well as performances on the two musical stages. Local and regional musicians will be on stage nearly all day.

The entertainment, according to the website, is as follows:

The Chickenshack Bluegrass Band
11:30am – 12:15pm
With five lead singers, this band blends bluegrass with influences from classic rock, country, and beyond.

The Maine Marimba Ensemble
12:45pm – 1:30pm
"Maine Marimba Ensemble performs complex polyrhythmic arrangements of traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean music on handcrafted marimbas," according to the website.

TJ Wheeler & The Smokers
2:00 – 2:45
This will be the group's 50th anniversary together, so expect some epic blues & Chromatic Harmonica.

Foreside Funk
3:15 – 4:00
"Straight outta Kittery, Maine, this 11-member multigenerational band is a funk powerhouse that will make you move," according to the event website. "Foreside Funk blends soulful melodies, tight rhythms, and sizzling horn sections, taking you on a journey back to funk’s golden era."

Get your walking shoes on, grab your cash, and gather the squad. This is the best day of the summer on the Seacoast. I'll be downtown with a crew of about 10-15, so say hi and let's have an epic 47th Market Square Day!

If you are wondering what kind of vendors will be there, check out who has a booth here.

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