Celebrating The Fourth of July In Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the place to be for real old fashioned family Fourth of July fun!

Start off with a BANG!!

Join us on Saturday, July 3rd at the city of Portsmouth's spectacular fireworks display at South Mill Pond. (Leary Field, Junkins Ave.)

Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m.

I suggest you bring a chair or blanket to sit on and get there early. We usually arrive around 7:00 to get our favorite spot.

Rain date is Monday, July 5.

The High-Hanover Parking Garage will charge a flat fee of $3 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Be Aware: There will be no parking on 23 streets (except for residents of those streets): Parrott, Junkins, Richards, Elwyn and Sherburne avenues; Mt. Vernon, Pleasant, South from Miller to Marcy streets, Richmond, Rogers, Edward, Livermore, Wentworth, Melcher, Whidden, Franklin, Pickering, Hunking, Gardner, Gates, Howard, Rockland and Kent streets.

A reminder from the Portsmouth Police Department that City Ordinance prohibits personal fireworks, including Class C sparklers.

On Sunday, July 4, Strawbery Banke will host their 9th annual "American Celebration"

See how people lived for four centuries of New England history.

Tour restored furnished houses, exhibits, historic landscapes and gardens.

With costumed role players, Strawbery Banke interprets the living history of generations who settled in Portsmouth, NH, from the late 17th century to the mid-20th century.

The museum's July 4th festivities are from 12:00 - 5:00 and will include:

Children's Bike & Wagon Parade - Decorate your bike, wagon, or stroller from 12:00 - 2:00. The parade begins at 2:30.

1940s Candy Counter - Enjoy a taste of history. Visit the 1940s Abbott neighborhood store to purchase period candy.

Blue Ocean Society Touch Tank - Kids will enjoy reaching in to touch living sea life.

Kites Over the Piscataqua - Members of the Kites Over New England Kite Club will demonstrate amazing flying skills. You can watch or you can fly!

Other activities include - Food, music, games, garden history tours, open hearth cooking demonstrations, weaving demonstrations, musket firings, 18th century Windsor chair making, stoneware pottery demonstrations, and so much more.

Adults pay $15 - kids and active members of the military and their families are free.

Additional Seacoast Area Fireworks displays on Sunday, July 4, 2010:

Hampton Beach 9:30

Dover, at Henry Law Park 9:15

Durham, at Cowell Stadium 9:00

York, at Ellis Park, Short Sands Beach 9:30