Christmas Events for Kids in Portsmouth, NH (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 4 min read

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth, NH for 2026, and here is what he found: 3 family events, 1 of them free. They are 36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest (from November 27), 3 Week Kids Art Class: Holiday Gift Making (December 3) and Meet the Author/Illustrator: Matt Tavares (December 12). We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our New Hampshire Christmas events for kids guide.

What Rally found in Portsmouth

  • 3 Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth
  • 1 free event, including 36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest
  • Also on the list: 1 story time and 2 craft workshops
  • Season: November 27 (36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest) to December 30 (36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest)
  • Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10

Free Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth

Holiday eventFree

36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest

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Portsmouth Historical Society fills its galleries with gingerbread creations built by local families, teens, kids, adults and businesses, all made entirely from edible materials. The 2026 theme is UFOs: Unidentified Frosted Objects, a nod to the society's main exhibition on Betty and Barney Hill, so expect rocket ships and sci-fi scenes alongside the usual Santa villages and Portsmouth landmarks. Entries do not have to be houses, and past years have included boats, cars, books and barns.

The exhibition is on view from Friday, November 27 through Wednesday, December 30, 2026, seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission and hours extended to 7 p.m. each Friday in December. An opening reception on Friday, December 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. includes the presentation of the Community Judges' ribbons. Families who want to enter must register by November 20 and drop off their creation on November 21 or 22.

Parent tip: The society says the show draws more than 8,000 visitors, so a weekday afternoon or one of the Friday evenings in December is a calmer time for small children than a weekend. Remind little ones that the houses are real candy but strictly for looking.

Host
Portsmouth Historical Society (opens in a new tab)
Address
Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Portsmouth Historical Society (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 2 more Portsmouth events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Crafts
  • 1 Story time
  • 1 Zoos and museums
  • 1 Free

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

Holiday crafts

3 Week Kids Art Class: Holiday Gift Making

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In this drop-off class at Seacoast ArtSpot, kids make handmade presents for the people on their own list, then design the wrapping paper and cards to go with them. Children are asked to arrive with a list of the relatives they want to make gifts for, and instructor Marcia Hansen and the studio help turn those ideas into finished pieces ready to go under the tree.

The class is listed for Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. and is sold as a three-week session for $105. Tickets are bought online and the page showed 8 spots available. Multi-week classes are not refundable if a child misses a session, though tickets can be transferred to someone else.

Parent tip: Sit down with your child beforehand and write out the gift list the studio asks for, with a name for each present. Check all three weeks against your calendar before buying, since missed sessions in a multi-week class are not refunded.

Host
Seacoast ArtSpot (opens in a new tab)
Address
Seacoast ArtSpot, 2992 Lafayette Rd Unit 3, Portsmouth, NH 03801 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Seacoast ArtSpot (opens in a new tab)

New Portsmouth events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Portsmouth daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Portsmouth.

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Holiday story time

Meet the Author/Illustrator: Matt Tavares

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Matt Tavares, who wrote and illustrated the picture book Dasher, stops at the Portsmouth Public Library on his holiday tour for a story time and book signing. He is marking a new special cover edition of Dasher and an upcoming animated special, and he will share a behind the scenes look at how the movie was made. The library is presenting the visit together with G. Willikers Books and Toys.

The program is on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Levenson Room. Registration is required through the library's calendar and closes when the event starts. Books by Tavares can be ordered ahead from G. Willikers Books and Toys on Market Street, in person or by phone at 603-436-7746.

Parent tip: Order your copy of Dasher from G. Willikers before the day so your child has a book in hand when the signing line forms. Register early, since sign-up is required and the program is listed for youth.

Host
Portsmouth Public Library (opens in a new tab)
Address
Portsmouth Public Library, Levenson Room, 175 Parrott Ave, Portsmouth, NH 03801 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Portsmouth Public Library (opens in a new tab)

New Portsmouth events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Portsmouth daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Portsmouth.

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We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our New Hampshire Christmas train rides page.

See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Portsmouth Christmas event for kids happens

The first is 36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest in Portsmouth on November 27; the last runs to December 30. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.

Looking further afield? Our New Hampshire Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Lee, Hooksett, Manchester, NH and Hudson. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.

A story for the drive home

A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

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2026 Christmas events are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Portsmouth

Portsmouth began in 1630 as Strawbery Banke, a settlement on the west bank of the Piscataqua River harbor named for the wild strawberries growing there. Nearly four centuries later, the brick seaport still does Christmas on a walkable scale, with a free gingerbread exhibition at the Historical Society and a reindeer story time at the public library.

How Portsmouth celebrates

Much of the season for families centers on the Portsmouth Historical Society, whose Gingerbread House Contest reaches its 36th year in 2026. The society calls it an annual Portsmouth holiday tradition and says sponsors keep it free for more than 8,000 visitors. Entries built by kids, teens, families and businesses go on display at 10 Middle Street from November 27 through December 30. At the Portsmouth Public Library on Parrott Avenue, author and illustrator Matt Tavares reads from Dasher on December 12 in partnership with G. Willikers Books and Toys of Market Street. Seacoast ArtSpot on Lafayette Road adds a holiday gift making class for kids in December.

Fun facts about Christmas in Portsmouth

Portsmouth was incorporated as a town in 1653 and named in honor of John Mason, the colony's founder, who had been captain of the English port of Portsmouth in Hampshire. It became a city in 1849. A fire in 1813 burned 244 buildings, and the fire district created afterward required new buildings to be brick with slate roofs, which gives the downtown its look today. The 2020 census counted 21,956 residents.

Traditions today

  • Gingerbread House Contest: Portsmouth Historical Society's free exhibition of all-edible creations is in its 36th year in 2026 and runs from late November to December 30.
  • Building an entry together: Families can enter the contest in a multi-generational category, and kids 12 and under or teens can enter on their own.
  • Gingerbread opening reception: On the first Friday of December the society holds an evening reception where the Community Judges' award ribbons are presented.
  • Holiday story time at the library: The Portsmouth Public Library hosts Dasher creator Matt Tavares for a December story time and signing with G. Willikers Books and Toys.
  • Handmade gifts: Seacoast ArtSpot offers a three-week after-school class where kids make presents, wrapping and cards for their families.
  • Market Square: The brick shops and cafes around Market Square form the compact, walkable downtown that frames a December visit.

A fact for kids

Portsmouth is home to the USS Albacore, a research submarine with a teardrop-shaped hull that set world underwater speed records. It came back to the city in 1985 and is now a museum you can visit.

Questions about Christmas in Portsmouth

When was Portsmouth, New Hampshire founded?

European colonists settled the west bank of the Piscataqua River harbor in 1630. The settlement was incorporated as a town in 1653 and became a city in 1849. Explorer Martin Pring had visited and written about the area earlier, in 1603.

How did Portsmouth get its name?

The settlement was first called Strawbery Banke, after the wild strawberries that grew along the harbor. When the town was incorporated in 1653 it was renamed Portsmouth to honor John Mason, the colony's founder, who had been captain of the port of Portsmouth in Hampshire, England.

Why is downtown Portsmouth built of brick?

Fires swept the downtown in the early 1800s, and the worst, in 1813, destroyed 244 buildings. Afterward a fire district was created that required new buildings inside its boundaries to be brick with slate roofs. That rule produced the matching Federal-style stores and townhouses seen today.

What happens at Christmas in Portsmouth for kids?

The Portsmouth Historical Society shows its 36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest from November 27 through December 30, 2026. The public library hosts Dasher author Matt Tavares on December 12, and Seacoast ArtSpot runs a three-week holiday gift making class for kids beginning December 3.

Where is the Portsmouth Gingerbread House Contest held?

The exhibition is at the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, which is also where entrants drop off their creations. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the run, with later hours until 7 p.m. on Fridays in December.

Who organizes the Gingerbread House Contest?

The Portsmouth Historical Society runs the contest and exhibition. The society says it depends on sponsors each year to keep the event free, and that the show is open to more than 8,000 visitors. Sponsors are also offered a seat at the judging table.

What is free at Christmas in Portsmouth?

Admission to the Gingerbread House Contest exhibition is free, and so is entering a creation. The library's Matt Tavares event on December 12, 2026 lists no price but requires registration. The Seacoast ArtSpot gift making class is a paid, ticketed program.

What is the 2026 gingerbread theme in Portsmouth?

The theme is UFOs: Unidentified Frosted Objects. It was chosen to go with the Historical Society's main exhibition on Betty and Barney Hill, and builders are invited to recreate space and science fiction stories. The society says the theme is only a suggestion, so Santa's village is welcome too.

What is Market Square in Portsmouth?

Market Square is the heart of the downtown historic district, ringed by cafes, restaurants and shops close to the waterfront. The city celebrates the area's revival each year with Market Square Day, an event that dates to 1977 and is produced by the nonprofit Pro Portsmouth.

How many people live in Portsmouth?

The 2020 census recorded 21,956 residents. Portsmouth is the only city in Rockingham County, though three towns in the county have more people. It sits on the Piscataqua River, which forms the border between New Hampshire and Maine.

Sources

  1. Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Wikipedia
  2. 36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest, Portsmouth Historical Society
  3. Meet the Author/Illustrator - Matt Tavares, Portsmouth Public Library
  4. 3 Week Kids Art Class: Holiday Gift Making, Seacoast ArtSpot

Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every New Hampshire city.

Portsmouth Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth to start with?

Start with the 36th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at Portsmouth Historical Society, on view from November 27 through December 30, 2026. It is free, open every day, and easy to fit around other plans. For a book-loving child, add the Matt Tavares author visit at the Portsmouth Public Library on Saturday, December 12.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth?

Yes. The Gingerbread House Contest exhibition at 10 Middle Street has free admission for its whole run, November 27 through December 30, 2026, and entering a creation is free as well. The Portsmouth Public Library's page for the December 12 Matt Tavares visit lists no charge but does require registration.

Where can kids meet Santa in Portsmouth?

None of the events confirmed for this page is a Santa visit. The closest thing is the December 12, 2026 story time at the Portsmouth Public Library with Matt Tavares, whose book Dasher tells how a young reindeer came to meet Santa. Gingerbread entries at the Historical Society sometimes show Santa's village too.

Are there holiday shows or displays for kids in Portsmouth?

The main display is the Gingerbread House Contest at Portsmouth Historical Society, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between November 27 and December 30, 2026, and until 7 p.m. on Fridays in December. This year's theme is UFOs: Unidentified Frosted Objects. An opening reception with award ribbons is on December 4.

Which Portsmouth Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?

The Gingerbread House Contest exhibition is walk-in. The Matt Tavares visit at the library on December 12, 2026 requires registration, which closes at the 2 p.m. start. The Holiday Gift Making art class at Seacoast ArtSpot, starting December 3, needs a ticket bought online, and the page listed $105 for the three-week session.

Can my family enter the Portsmouth Gingerbread House Contest?

Yes. There are categories for youth 12 and under, teens 13 to 17, adults, multi-generational teams and organizations. Register by Friday, November 20, 2026, then drop your entry at 10 Middle Street on November 21 or 22 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Everything must be edible, and the base can be no larger than 15 by 15 inches.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Portsmouth?

Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s New Hampshire Christmas train rides guide. This Portsmouth guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Kelsey Cecil
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