Pro Portsmouth Unveils Logos

PORTSMOUTH, NH — The 40th Annual Market Square Day Festival and 10K Road Race marks a first: two logos were selected to mark the event, according to a press statement. Pro Portsmouth unveiled the logos and discussed the city’s premier downtown festival at the NH Art Association’s Robert Levy Gallery earlier this week.

Pro Portsmouth’s Executive Director Barbara Massar thanked the many area businesses who make Market Square Day possible – Road Race Title Sponsor Access Sports Medicine as well as Festival and Race Supporting Sponsors Liberty Mutual Insurance, Wheelabrator Technologies, Oakhurst Dairy, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Coca Cola of Northern New England, People’s United Bank, Runner’s Alley, Lyons Law Offices, Bottomline Technologies, Ashton & Co., CPA, The Mall at Fox Run, Seacoast Dermatology and Portsmouth Chevrolet.

Representatives from Access Sports Medicine, Runner’s Alley and Wheelabrator were on hand for the logos’ reveal.

“Our Seacoast artists were up for the throwback logo challenge, making this one of the more difficult years in terms of selection,” noted Massar. “So, we decided to try something different and go with two logos.”

Artist Paula Ring’s design was chosen from numerous submissions and will be featured on all Race and Volunteer T-shirts as well as the Festival T-shirt which will be available at the Pro Portsmouth booth in Market Square during the event. Paula is a Cape Neddick freelance designer with over 20 years’ experience in the field. This particular logo project was a fun collaboration for Paula and her daughter. Eight year old Scarlett

played a big part in creating this MSD logo as the “lil” art director, giving the logo a young, playful feel.

Jeremiah Gould’s interpretation of Pro Portsmouth first logo sign, designed by Roomet Aring, was selected for the 10K race and will be used for all future branding of the race. Jeremiah is a writer, runner, printer, and designer. Born and raised on the Seacoast, he is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. Beyond heading up design and marketing at Runner’s Alley, Jeremiah also operates Rye House Press: an intermittent letterpress publishing poetry broadsides and chapbooks. His artwork and design can be spied on running posters, shirts, stickers, and hats all over the state.

The third place design was submitted by Kelly Goodwin.

Pro Portsmouth also announced that the NHAA was their featured non-profit for Market Square Day. “The New Hampshire Art Association operates the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery and off-site venues to service the Seacoast and statewide community of artists. They are committed to bringing art into the community to foster creativity and spirit. We at Pro Portsmouth see the NHAA as kindred spirits and felt that having our unveiling at the gallery was true synchronicity,” noted Executive Director, Barbara Massar.

A variety of Volunteer opportunities are open. Information regarding Volunteering for MSD is available by contacting Shawn Bjorklund at 433-4398 Ext. 4 or coordinator@proportsmouth.org

The Market Square Day Historic Walk takes place at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 9, 2017. The Walk begins at Market Square in front of the North Church.

“The Walk was the creation of the late, great Bruce Ingmire, and although he last gave the tour in 1992, we at Pro Portsmouth are proud to carry on the tradition,” stated Massar.

Market Square Day features entertainment throughout the day on two stages. Various acts will fill the Downtown with music.

Noted Massar, “This year’s musical offerings take on a very diverse sound with new performers’ from Patrick Dorow Productions opening up the festivities on the Main Stage at Pleasant Street.”

An abundance of crafters, local businesses and food vendors will set up ‘shop’ on the streets of Portsmouth. Over 170 will be on hand for this year’s festival.

Parking restrictions do take place in Downtown Portsmouth beginning at 4:00am on Saturday, June 10th. Streets will be posted on Friday, June 9, to indicate where parking is prohibited during the festival. Parking restrictions will be enforced and vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense. The Parking Garage offers a flat fee of $5 from the hours of 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free Shuttle service (STA) provided by Pro Portsmouth runs from the overflow Lot at The Mall at Fox Run (across from the JC Penny/Lens Crafters side of Mall) to the Hanover Street Bus Station across from the Hilton Garden Inn (Hanover Street Bus Stop) in Downtown Portsmouth. The shuttle runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; details online at proportsmouth.org/MSDparking.cfm

The event, often referred to as the unofficial start to Summer on the Seacoast, attracts 2,000 runners and competitive walkers for the 10K race and 50,000 festival-enthusiasts to the heart of the City. The Road Race starts at 9am in Market Square. The Festival runs from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m.

Market Square Day is produced by Pro Portsmouth. Pro Portsmouth, Inc. is a 501c (3) organization serving the Seacoast area. Its Mission is to promote the arts, culture, history and community of the area through such events as Children’s Day, Market Square Day, Summer in the Street and First Night Portsmouth.

For more information on the group, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit proportsmouth.org.

Submitted by Pro Portsmouth.