PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth presents the annual fireworks display on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at South Mill Pond with a rain date of Saturday, July 5. This celebration is an alcohol-free, family-friendly event. The City has not allocated funds for fireworks in next year’s budget. Unless a private donor steps forward to sponsor the event, this year’s celebration will mark the final Independence Day fireworks display.

The celebration starts at 7 p.m. at Leary Field with the Music and Game Zone which includes lawn games and a DJ. At 9 pm Crystal Taber will sing the National Anthem. At 9:15 p.m. the Independence Day fireworks begin.

Due to special conditions associated with this event, Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport has enacted temporary no parking regulations for the following streets starting at noon on Thursday, July 3: 

 

Beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2025, all South Mill Pond recreation facilities–including the tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, dog park, playground, baseball fields, and the Junkins Avenue parking lot–will be closed to accommodate fireworks setup. Vehicles left in the parking lot will be towed at the owner’s expense due to safety concerns related to fireworks operations.

 

Any vehicles still parked on Parrott Avenue between Richards Avenue and Junkins Avenue will be towed beginning at noon on July 3. Parrott Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 7 p.m. and Junkins Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic at 8 p.m. Recreation areas around South Mill Pond will reopen at dawn the following day. In the event of a rain delay, the closure times will be the same for Saturday, July 5.

A limited amount of ADA-accessible parking will be available in the Public Library lot on Parrott Avenue. Attendees are able to access this lot until 7 p.m. when Parrott Avenue closes to vehicular traffic. The Foundry Garage will charge a $5 pre-pay fee on entry, and the Hanover Parking Garage will charge a $10 pre-pay fee on entry. To take advantage of this pre-pay rate, individuals must arrive at the garage between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the day of the fireworks.

Information: https://www.portsmouthnh.gov/city/events/independence-day-fireworks-2025