No Tricks: Rain Will Clear for Halloween Trick or Treat, Parade

The weather looked frightful to start Halloween on Sunday but the rain should clear out in time for trick or treating and the Portsmouth Halloween Parade.

Several towns moved their trick or treat night to Sunday with a forecast of heavy rain and gusty winds for Saturday. A Flood Warning is posted for the Seacoast until at least noon after 3-7 inches of rain fell Saturday night into Sunday morning.

The afternoon will bring more clouds than sun but no rain, according to National Weather Service forecaster Michael Clair at the Gray, Maine office.

"By later this afternoon and this evening things will be looking pretty good. The storms will be pulling out over the next few hours. The showers should wind down and what we're left with is some pretty warm temperatures. Highs will be in the mid-60s on Sunday," Clair told Seacoast Current.

Portsmouth Halloween Parade a Go

The Portsmouth Halloween Parade is scheduled to step off at 7 p.m. at Four Tree Island near Prescott Park. Those who plan to march should gather at 6 p.m. No pre-registration is required to participate.

Parade organizers have some rules in place which they boiled down to a short list called "even ghouls have rules."

• March at your own risk
• No open flame. motorized vehicle or horses
• No corporate or political solicitation
• No throwing things
• Listen to your marshals

The parade's organizers said that while it encourages free expression in choice of costume it's not intended to be a political rally or commercial opportunity.

"Expect the pressing of outside agendas to be frowned upon, unless deployed with humor, ingenuity, and within the creative, celebratory spirit of the event," the organizers wrote on their website.

Parking Restrictions for the Parade

Parking will be available for a special flat rate of $3 at the Foundry Place Garage from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. The High/Hanover Street, Worth Lot and Bridge Street Lot will normal rates

On-street parking is banned along the parade route from Marcy Street to Daniel Street to Market Square, and continuing along Congress to Fleet, to State Street and back to the start. The parking ban will last from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the street closures from 6 pm to 10 pm.

The following streets are some that will be closed or restricted to local traffic only. Police Officers, signs and/or barricades will be in place for these streets:

• Marcy Street – from Hancock Street to State Street and under the bridge to Daniel Street
• Daniel Street – from Bow Street to Market Square
• Bow Street – most of Bow, from Daniel to Market Street will be closed during the parade
• Market Street – from Hanover Street to Market Square
• Fleet Street – from Hanover Street to Congress Street and State Street to Congress Street
• Congress Street – from Market Street to Fleet
• Pleasant Street – from Court Street to Market Square
• State Street – from Fleet Street to Marcy Street
• Porter Street – from Fleet Street to Pleasant Street

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