Entertainment and Events

Despite the name, it isn’t all just music at The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., 603/436-2400, www.themusichall.org [1]). The velvet-curtained 900-seat historic theater screens movies, kids’ shows, and comedy performances. And yes, music too—jazz trios and vocal gigs to blues singers.

Catch theater performances—musical and otherwise—by the Seacoast Repertory Theater (125 Bow St., 603/433-4472, www.seacoastrep.org [2]) in the brewery turned performance center that is Bow Street Theatre. Come summertime, the company puts on a music series.

With plenty of space—and still plenty more beer—Portsmouth Brewery (56 Market St., 603/431-1115, www.portsmouthbrewery.com [3]) is an easy place to relax. Claiming to be New Hampshire’s [4] original brewpub, the place churns out award-winning brewed-on-the-premises lagers and ales. In good weather there’s al fresco seating, and a lounge downstairs.

Grab a game of pool with your pint at the noisy, fun Legends Billiards & Tavern (80 Hanover St., 603/433-1154). It also stages live music shows on weekends.

On the first Friday of every month, the local art association sponsors a Gallery Walk [5] (603/431-4230, www.artroundtown.org [6]), in which galleries around downtown break out wine and cheese for simultaneous openings.

Portsmouth’s [7] annual summer celebration is Market Square Day (603/433-4398, www.proportsmouth.org [8], June), which features food and fun downtown and a 10K Road Race through the city.

Additionally, Strawbery Banke [9] sponsors several different theme weekends throughout the year, including a summer Maritime Weekend, Halloween ghost tours, and the popular Candlelight Stroll (603/433-1100, www.strawberybanke.org [10], Dec.) in which the streets of the museum are filled with hundreds of lit candles, and interpreters lead visitors in traditional holiday festivities.