EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

The Music Hall & The Music Hall Lounge
n 1878, the 900 seat The Music Hall opened its doors as a Vaudeville theater. Fast forward 140 years and The Music Hall—now with a second more intimate space, the Music Hall Lounge— offers a wide range of live music plus films, authors, humor and more.

The Press Room
The Press Room is the longest running bar, restaurant, and live entertainment venue in downtown Portsmouth. An eclectic lineup of offerings includes singer songwriters, jazz, blues, funk, indie rock, open mic nights, and more.

Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
First and foremost, Jimmy’s is about the music. Meticulously engineered with superior acoustics, sound equipment and lighting, Jimmy’s is an intimate, state of the art venue hosting world renowned and up and coming musicians. Food and drink are available.

3S Artspace
3S Artspace is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit contemporary arts organization that combines a flexible performance space, a large contemporary art Gallery, and a restaurant partner.  3S is committed to presenting a wide range of music, with a focus on adventurous, underrepresented, and unconventional acts. Their aim is to showcase some of the best national and international talent, and shine the spotlight on some of the best talent in the region.

Prescott Park Arts Festival
Nestled along the banks of the Piscataqua River in downtown Portsmouth’s Prescott Park, the Festival combines a grassroots, community feel with the allure that accompanies the Grammy Award winning national touring acts that grace the stage. The Festival has a rich history of presenting a 10-week summer season of inspiring, family-friendly arts programming, including themed music festivals, concerts, a film series, dance, children’s events, and signature musical theatre. 

Gaslight
A downtown restaurant with live music, plus a weekend DJ in the top floor nightclub.  In good weather, listen to music on their outside deck.

Seacoast Science Center
Seacoast Science Center is all about hands-on education, but on Thursday evenings in the summer, they want your FEET on the dance floor to support conservation of our Blue Planet. Their new, larger seaside tent has plenty of room for groovin’ to live music.

The Music Hall
For children, check out the Music Hall’s School Days Series. At holiday time, enjoy a family musical co-presented with the Ogunquit Playhouse.

Seacoast Repertory Theatre
Seacoast Rep is a nonprofit, professional regional theatre with productions year round. Offering well know musicals along with newer works.

NH Theater Project at the West End Studio Theatre
New Hampshire Theatre Project is located in the West End, the heart of Portsmouth, NH’s alternative arts district. They offer Main Stage productions, guest artist presentations, touring performances & community residencies.

3S Artspace
Check out the calendar for special nights of theater, storytelling or comedy.

The Player’s Ring
The Player’s Ring is an intimate, 75 seat space offering an eclectic mix of productions, both well know and new works.

Strawberry Banke
Strawberry Banke Museum is a 10-acre campus dedicated to bringing 300+ years of history to life, from Indigenous history to the present day, in the Puddle Dock neighborhood. Tour historic houses on their original foundations, meet engaging costumed roleplayers, watch traditional crafts demonstrations, and explore historical gardens and landscapes.

Porstmouth Historical Society
The Portsmouth Historical Society offers changing exhibitions in its three gallery spaces.  Visitors can also watch a 14 minute film on the 400 year history of the city.

Portsmouth Anthenaeum
While there were once hundreds of membership libraries across America, there are now fewer than twenty left. The Athenaeum today continues this long tradition of mutual improvement by maintaining a library of over 40,000 volumes and an archive of manuscripts, photographs, objects, and ephemera relating to local history. It also sponsors exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and other educational and cultural programs.

NH Art Association Lincoln Levy Gallery
NHAA is open year-round with new exhibits monthly. They feature the largest selection of original artwork from regional artists in the Seacoast. NHAA participates in the monthly Art 'Round Town gallery art walks in downtown Portsmouth on the first Friday of each month with an open reception from 5:00 - 8:00

USS Albacore Museum
Visit the museum then take a self guided tour through the submarine. Designed, built, and maintained by the skilled engineers and craftsmen of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Albacore served as a sea-going test platform from 1953 to 1972.

Kennedy Gallery
Conveniently located in downtown Portsmouth, the gallery presents a wide selection of original local artwork, archival prints, photography, and gifts. Featured artists change monthly.

Ceres St. Gallery
Ceres Gallery is a unique association of artists. It is a blend of world renowned Living Master Painters and emerging future masters. Exhibited works change monthly.

Most of Portsmouth’s historic house museums are open Memorial Day weekend through mid-October.  Many are NOT open 7 days/week.  Click on any of the houses to view specific dates, times and admission prices. Most are walking distance from the Sailmaker’s House, but you may want to drive to the Jackson House and the Wentworth Coolidge Mansion.

John Paul Jones House

Governor John Langdon House

Wentworth-Gardner House

Rundlet May House 

Warner House

Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden

Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion

Jackson House