Portsmouth Tree Lighting, Parade Is Tonight

Portsmouth's annual tree lighting ceremony and holiday will be held Saturday.

The tree lighting ceremony starts at 5 p.m. downtown. The lights will be flipped on at 5:30 p.m.

The parade kicks off at 6 p.m.

Below is a news release from the city:

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The City's 2013 annual illuminated Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, December 7, and festivities will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. This year's tree has been donated by local resident Jack Hartman. Crane services for the tree were donated by Badger Rand Company, Inc. located in Dover, NH. Holiday music will be performed by the Portsmouth Middle School Band at the parade platform in Market Square, and the official tree lighting switch will be flipped at 5:30 p.m.

Further details for the City's parade, "Celebration of Lights", can be found on the Mayor's page of the City's website (http://cityofportsmouth.com/mayor/index.htm), including street closures and the Vintage Christmas Trolley route and hours. The City will offer a set $3 parking fee at the High-Hanover Parking Facility between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for those attending downtown festivities. Parking details for the parade can be found on the City's ParkPortsmouth website: http://www.parkportsmouth.com.

For more information or anyone with questions please contact Brinn Chute, Parade Coordinator, at (603) 610-4433 or by email: parade@cityofportsmouth.com