Market Square Day 2025 in Portsmouth: What to know about food, vendors, parking, 10K race

PORTSMOUTH — The 48th annual Market Square Day festival and 10K road race will take over the city’s downtown on Saturday, June 14.

Thousands attend the event annually, which is produced by the nonprofit Pro Portsmouth. It features entertainers throughout the day on the Pleasant Street stage, as well as an abundance of crafters, local businesses and food vendors who will set up shop on the streets.

Crowds fill the streets on Market Square Day 2024 in Portsmouth. The 2025 event will be Saturday, June 14. Provided by Pro Portsmouth.

Here’s a look at what to expect on the day of the festival, with information from Pro Portsmouth:

When is the Market Square Day 10K Road Race?

The MSD 10K Road Race kicks off with a 9 a.m. start in Market Square. The finish line is at Strawbery Banke Museum. Runners can register at proportsmouth.org/events/market-square-day-10k.

Who are the food and crafts vendors at Market Square Day?

The 2025 Market Square Day Map for the event to be hosted by Pro Portsmouth on Saturday, June 14.

Food vendors in 2025 are set to include 5 Thai Bistro, Flatbread Company, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, Legends Billiards & Tavern, Napoletana Pizzeria/Toscana Italian Chophouse, Shalimar India, The Juicery, OTTO Pizza, Rye Harbor Lobster Pound, The Better Kettle, Butter Belly, Let the Dough Roll, Slush King, Wing-Itz and nonprofits St. Nicholas Greek Church and Scouting America.

There are dozens of vendors in the artists and craftspeople category, many of them from the Seacoast. Many downtown Portsmouth businesses set up booths as well.

In addition, Pro Portsmouth says festival visitors may be interested in Seacoast Eat Local’s Portsmouth weekly farmers market (held 8 a.m. to noon at the City Hall parking lot at 1 Junkins Ave.).

Also, a pancake breakfast hosted by Middle Street Baptist Church at 18 Court St. will be held 7:30-11:30 a.m. All proceeds go to the Seacoast Community Lunch program, which partners with community organizations, local businesses, and individual volunteers to offer a free, hot meal every Wednesday afternoon to anyone who wants one.

Who are the performers on the Pleasant Street stage?

Here’s the Pleasant Street stage entertainment schedule, hosted by WSCA Portsmouth community radio:

• The Chickenshack Bluegrass Band (11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.): Bluegrass music with influences from classic rock, country and beyond, five lead singers and harmonies.
• TJ Wheeler & Friends (12:45-1:30 p.m.): Blues, jazz, and a bit of R&B.
• The Maine Marimba Ensemble (2-2:45 p.m.): Complex polyrhythmic arrangements of traditional andcontemporary Zimbabwean music on handcrafted instruments.
• The Reconstructed (3:15-4 p.m.): Band describes themselves as “emotionally driven folk rock.”

Which streets are closing on Market Square Day?

Portsmouth police advise the public to expect temporary traffic delays throughout the city for the Market Square Day 10K starting at 9 a.m.

Streets closed due to the festival will be posted with parking restrictions. Any vehicles parked on the streets closed as part of the festival will be towed at the owner’s expense. These streets will be closed to on-the-street parking from 5 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m.:

• Congress Street
• Market Street (Bow Street to Market Square)
• Ladd Street
• Fleet Street
• Chestnut Street (Congress to Porter)
• Porter Street
• Church Street (Congress to State)
• Pleasant Street (State to Market Square)
• Penhallow Street
• Daniel Street (Chapel Street to Market Square)

Parking in Portsmouth on Market Square Day

Portsmouth offers two municipal parking garages: Foundry Garage (GPS: 100 Foundry Place) and the High-Hanover garage (GPS: 34 Hanover St; due to ongoing construction, limited availability).

Metered parking is enforced on Market Square Day, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is no shuttle or remote parking.

Information is available at parkportsmouth.com and a parking map with rates is on the city website, too.

Are there accommodations for families with young children at Market Square Day?

A family changing and nursing station is offered in the the M&T Bank Lot at 325 State Street, presented by the Middle Street Baptist Church.

An overhead view of downtown Portsmouth on Market Square Day in 2024. The 2025 event will be held Saturday, June 14.

How can I volunteer on Market Square Day?

Pro Portsmouth is always seeking volunteers for Market Square Day and its other events. Information: proportsmouth.org/volunteer.

Is there a rain date for Market Square Day?

No, the event is held shine or rain.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Market Square Day 2025 in Portsmouth: What to know about food, vendors, parking, 10K race

Reporting by Staff report / Portsmouth Herald

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