Portsmouth Halloween Parade 2023: Everything you need to know before you go

PORTSMOUTH — Penny Brewster, founder of the popular Ceres Bakery, has been tapped as the grand marshal for the 28th annual Portsmouth Halloween Parade in 2023.

“When they asked me to do it, I felt like I had been invited to the prom by some very cool people,” she said. “I was thrilled to pieces, obviously. It’s one of my most favorite nights of the year.”

In business for 43 years, Brewster’s bakery has been supportive of the Halloween event for two decades. Each October, Ceres Bakery sells a pumpkin-flavored cookie throughout the month and donates all proceeds to the Portsmouth Halloween Parade.

Family and friends will march beside Brewster in the parade, scheduled to step off at 7 p.m. on Halloween night, regardless of the weather.

“It’s one of the best nights in Portsmouth. It’s grassroots. It's vaguely disorganized, which makes it so much more fun. And anybody can do it,” Brewster said.

Parade leaders say in past years, the event has drawn between 5,000 and 20,000 people.

Longtime Portsmouth Halloween Parade organizers Monte Bohanan and Jonathan Day are two of the six members of the parade’s leadership committee. Brewster was on a short list of candidates that the group had identified as possible grand marshals for the 2023 procession.

The parade has been led by a grand marshal since 2003. Last year, the Portsmouth Thrillers dance troupe headed the event.

“This year we found Penny Brewster, who is one of the shining, virtuous vestiges of old Portsmouth, having run Ceres Bakery for years and has also supported the Halloween Parade,” Day said.

“She exemplifies the spirit of the parade and the spirit of the community that we want to put out front for this year as Portsmouth celebrates its 400th (anniversary),” Bohanan added. “She’s been feeding this community for a whole lot of years.”

Can I participate in the parade?

The ability to march in the Portsmouth Halloween Parade is open to everyone, with no pre-registration required to join in on the fun. All who wish to march in their costumes can do so.

Staging for the parade will begin at Peirce Island at 6 p.m. prior to the 7 p.m. event.

What is the parade route?

The parade begins on Peirce Island and heads downtown over the bridge leading to Prescott Park. Marchers travel beneath the Memorial Bridge and up to Daniel Street, then through Market Square and along Congress Street. Participants then turn onto Fleet Street, walk onto State Street and journey back to Prescott Park, where the parade officially ends in the parking lot.

Where you can park for Portsmouth Halloween Parade

Parade-goers can park in the city's High-Hanover or Foundry Place parking garages, as well as in the Worth lot or in the Bridge Street lot. Normal rates will apply, according to the city.

Portsmouth road closures and detours for parade night

Multiple road closures and traffic detours in Portsmouth will be in place on Halloween ahead of the parade.

“There will be significant traffic delays in the parade route area as it passes and motorists are strongly urged to seek alternate routes away from affected streets,” the city recently announced.

The following roads in Portsmouth will either be closed or restricted starting at 6 p.m. on Halloween:

• 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 (from Daniel Street to Market Street)

• Market Street (from Hanover Street to Market Square)

• Fleet Street (from Hanover Street to State Street)

• Congress Street (from Market Street to Maplewood Avenue)

• Pleasant Street (from Court Street to Market Square)

• State Street (from Fleet Street to Marcy Street)

• Porter Street (from Fleet Street to Pleasant Street)

All vehicles parked along the parade route must be moved by 5 p.m. on Halloween night, per the city. Any vehicles in violation will be towed to National Wrecker Service in Portsmouth.

The Halloween parade parking ban will last from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the street closures will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Privately-operated drones are not allowed at the parade.

ADA-accessible viewing in place for parade

Updated information was provided by the city of Portsmouth on Monday, Oct. 23:An ADA-accessible viewing area hosted by Access Navigators will be available on a first-come basis the night of the parade.

Accessible parking is available in the Prescott Park parking lot near Memorial Bridge and accessible viewing will be located on the sidewalk along Marcy Street adjacent to Prescott Park near the intersection with State Street. The wheelchair-accessible area is reserved for people who have difficulty standing along with their companions. For more details visit Access Navigators on Facebook or at AccessNavigators.com.

Parade has filed 501(c)(3) nonprofit application

The Portsmouth Halloween Parade is not a city-sponsored event but is orchestrated with the help of city police and public works resources. The event on average costs over $10,000 to put on every year, according to Bohanan, and draws upwards of 2,500 marchers.

The parade has filed to become a 501(c)(3) organization. Day said he anticipates the application being approved before the end of 2023.

“We realized that for the long-term viability and health of the parade, we need to fundraise,” he said.

Information: portsmouthhalloweenparade.org

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth Halloween Parade 2023: What to know before you go