City of Portsmouth NH announces parking and road closure details for Pro Portsmouth’s First Night Portsmouth on Dec. 31, 2025

PORTSMOUTH – Pro Portsmouth’s First Night 2026 takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 from 3 to 8 pm, culminating with the annual fireworks show at 7:30 p.m. at South Mill Pond. Artist Jeff Day and his team will create an ice sculpture in front of North Church between 2 and 4 p.m. The sculpture will remain on display into January.

To facilitate a safe and entertaining First Night, the dog park, courts, and a large portion of the parking lot near the South Mill Pond Playground will close at 8 am on Dec. 31 to allow for safely staging the fireworks. Parking on the entire length of Parrott Avenue is prohibited from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Dec. 31 and the road will be closed to vehicular traffic from approximately 7 to 8 p.m. “No Parking” signs will be posted on Parrott Avenue and vehicles parking in the posted areas will be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.

Twenty-five supplemental ADA-accessible parking spaces will be reserved in the Portsmouth Public Library parking lot from 12 to 9 p.m. To take advantage of these spaces, vehicles must enter Parrott Avenue prior to 7 pm as the road is closed from 7 to 8 p.m.

Regular downtown, on-street and municipal lot metered parking rates are in effect from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31. The three-hour resident discount holiday in the Foundry and High Hanover garages is in effect through Jan. 1, 2026.

CAPTION: The artwork chosen for the First Night 2026 logo was created by Katelyn Souphakhot, Development & Marketing Director at the Seacoast Community School.