Portsmouth 400th Kickoff Party Held On Friday

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Portsmouth's 400th birthday celebration will begin on Friday with The Grand 1.6.23 Kickoff Party, the lighting of the Jay Benjamin Memorial Bridge.

The event starts in the public forum area of Prescott Park with the lighting of the bridge at 4 p.m. The bridge will be in “PNH400 Blue.” The lighting will be followed by a “History Lights Our Way” procession, a short walk to South Church. At the church, a grand reveal will show what the city will celebrate in 2023.

After the event, entertainment, cocoa, and cookies will be served at South Church.

“The Grand Portsmouth NH 400th 1.6.23 Kickoff is a celebration of all the hard work the pillar teams have put into making this anniversary truly one for making unique memories,” PNH400 Managing Director Valerie Rochon said. “The party is for everyone — our volunteers, our sponsors, and most of all, our community. The 1.6.23 event sets the mood for a calendar of special events being created in all corners of the community by many diverse organizations that lasts from First Night 2023 to First Night 2024. PNH400 invites everyone to come see why we’re so excited about what’s to come!”

The Grand 1.6.23 Kickoff Party is free and open to the public.

Glow sticks for the procession can be obtained by registering for the kickoff party linked here.

For more information on sponsorships, donations, and other funding opportunities, contact PNH400 Community Engagement Officer Susan Labrie at susan@portsmouthnh400.org.

Got a news tip? Could you send it to tony.schinella@patch.com? View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.