Back in Full Force: Portsmouth, NH's Market Square Day Returns

Pro Portsmouth's annual Market Square Day will be back in its usual June spot after two years of changes driven by the pandemic

After moving to September in 2021 and being completely canceled in 2022, the 45th annual arts festival is back in full force with over 60,000 people expected to converge in downtown Portsmouth and take in the crafters, local businesses, food vendors, and entertainers who will be set up on Saturday, June 11.

Pro Portsmouth Executive Director Barbara Massar unveiled this year's logo on Thursday at the home of a new sponsor, footwear maker Duckfeet.

“No doubt about it, getting out and connecting with people has been so important as we continue to make our way through these changing times, and helping to introduce the community to Duckfeet and their amazing footwear seemed like a good idea," Massar said.

The Pleasant Street stage entertainment lineup is filling up with The Maine Marimba Ensemble and the Vital Tones among the groups on the schedule.

The Market Square Day 10K road race will also start at 9 a.m. as part of Pro Portsmouth's Seacoast Road Race Series. Registration for all races is free but donations are appreciated, according to executive director Barbara Massar.

The festival is also looking for volunteers to help with a number of duties.

Market Square Day map (Pro Portsmouth)

The winning logo was designed by artist Kelly Goodwin, a Senior Marketing Designer at Heinemann Publishing. Goodwin said her uncle provided lighting and sound fort the event. It will appear on all race and volunteer t-shirts.

"Market Square Day is so festive and fun, so coming up with a logo that encompasses the energy of MSD is just so enjoyable. With the pandemic, it has been arduous to stay creative and especially go out of my way to pick up that bristol board and charcoal," Goodwin said in a statement. "The opportunity to submit such fun art for an exciting event always picks my creative brain."

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH

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