This weekend in Portsmouth, NH

The Portsmouth Farmers’ Market fills the City Hall parking area with farm-fresh produce, locally raised meats, dairy, ready-to-eat dishes, baked treats, and distinctive handmade goods. Weekly highlights include appearances by community guests and live performances from local Seacoast musicians. An interactive market map is available to see which vendors plan to attend. SNAP is accepted at the Market Info booth, with a one-to-one match through Granite State Market Match. Portable facilities are set up across the street at South Mill Pond Playground, where a shaded picnic area offers a comfortable spot to enjoy your purchases. Please note that pets are not permitted, though service animals are always welcome. Parking is available in the City Hall Lower Lot marked at the entrance, with additional parking across the street at South Mill Pond Playground, and accessible spaces directly in front of the City Hall building.

This 2.5 mile swim in the ocean features views of Nubble Light and a route through the gut, raising funds for the Michael Phelps Foundation IM Program.

At this Portsmouth turn-in event, eligible customers served by NHSaves® utility partners can recycle inefficient but working room air conditioners or dehumidifiers for a $50 incentive per unit. To make drop-off quick, complete the rebate form in advance to receive a confirmation code, have that code ready, then turn in your working units to event staff for verification. After approval, a $50-per-unit recycling rebate is mailed within six to eight weeks. There is a limit of two room air conditioners and two dehumidifiers per residential account, and commercial accounts are not eligible. If you are unable to pre-apply online, staff can accommodate this, and a printable rebate form can be pre-filled and brought along with your units.

At the John Paul Jones House, the annual Art in Bloom pairs fine art with imaginative floral designs inspired by the house’s architecture and collection. Explore the rooms to see living arrangements that echo the art and the character of this historic property, and learn about the home’s history along the way. Admission to the exhibition is included with entry, with tickets available at the John Paul Jones House, and members receive free admission. The celebration features a Garden Party offering a first look at the fresh arrangements, a toast to the Judge’s Award winners, and an outdoor gathering on the front lawn with themed beverages by Maeve’s Mobile Cocktail Hour and custom floral ice cream made by Red Rover Creamery. A Floral Workshop led by a merry b florals invites attendees to try their hand at arranging.

Discover the art of mosaics in a welcoming class for newcomers. Learn what materials you need, how to measure for a good fit, and how to work with the essential tools and special finds that make mosaic designs unique. Explore different tiles, adhesives, and grout, and practice techniques for attaching your design to a wooden surface. Simple math will help you plan layout and spacing so your pattern comes together smoothly. Create your mosaic and secure it to your piece, then complete the grouting in a follow-up session. Participants will leave with a finished, personalized work of art.

This introductory wheel throwing class welcomes beginners with a brief demonstration, then hands-on time at the pottery wheel to create your own pieces. No prior experience is required. If you simply want to experiment without keeping your work, that is fine. If you decide to keep a piece, glazing and firing are available for an additional $20. Choose your glaze color before you leave, and finished work will be ready in about 3 to 5 weeks. The session lasts 90 minutes and costs $65. Attend solo, with a friend, or make it a creative date.

Fruition brings tight three part harmonies, road tested chemistry, and a rootsy blend that moves from front porch folk to full band fire to The Press Room on the Something More Tour. Their music has reached the Americana charts and reflects more than 15 years of collaboration among three songwriters and five longtime bandmates who build songs around rich vocal layers and a collective approach. The set draws from How To Make Mistakes, their first studio release in four years, tracked live with the whole band playing together, no overdubs, and seventeen songs captured in seven days. Co-produced by the group, the album showcases three distinct lead voices and a wide palette that spans rock, soul, folk, pop, acoustic textures, and electrified arrangements. Formed in Portland in 2008 and forged on street corners and countless stages, Fruition regrouped after time off the road in 2020 and channeled that renewed focus into songs that range from pedal steel tinged folk rock to spacious Americana and campfire ballads. Titles like Lonely Work, Scars, Get Lost, Can You Tell Me, and Never Change hint at the breadth of their sound while keeping an honest, live in the room feel. All ages are admitted. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of.

Joe keeps the piano bar lively every Saturday as part of a weekly series. Please note there is one Saturday when it will not be held.

Kevin Nealon appears at The Music Hall. The Emmy and SAG Award-nominated actor, comedian, and author spent nine seasons on Saturday Night Live, earned recognition for Showtime’s Weeds, and most recently starred throughout all four seasons of the CBS comedy Man With a Plan while continuing to perform stand-up around the world. He also produces and hosts the web series Hiking with Kevin on his YouTube channel, where he interviews well-known friends during hikes across the country. His television work spans the voice of Glenn Martin, DDS, two Showtime stand-up specials, and appearances on Monk, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Still Standing. Film credits include Anger Management, Eight Crazy Nights, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, Just Go With It, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Joe Dirt, Daddy Day Care, Roxanne, and Grandma’s Boy. During his long run on SNL from 1986 to 1995, he served as a recurring anchor on Weekend Update and received an Emmy nomination as part of the show’s writing team.

Category 5 performs live at Thirsty Moose Taphouse - Portsmouth.

Enjoy a hike paired with a yoga session on the grounds of York Land Trust. The hike is optional, and participants may go straight to the area by the Land Trust building for the class, which is led by Amelia. Nearby, Near Point Preserve features a one mile loop through meadows and forest along Smelt Brook, offering views of broad marshlands and a pond. A wooded trail reaches a salt marsh that supports blue herons, night herons, white egrets, and the rare saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow. Bobcat, river otters, and fox have been spotted along the brook, a major tributary of the York River, and the surrounding meadows provide forage for a variety of nesting songbirds.

Step onto the trail for a guided mindful outing with Stephanie Hudson that invites a deeper connection with your body and the natural world. This is not a fast-paced hike. Through guided breathing and gentle movement, you will nurture present-moment awareness and openness to nature’s wisdom. The group then walks at a relaxed, unhurried pace that supports a sense of rhythm, presence, and ease. A quiet seated meditation follows, and the experience concludes with a brief circle to reflect and share insights. No prior hiking or meditation experience is needed, and participants must be 16 or older. Please leave dogs at home. The program is held in most weather, with cancellations only if conditions are unsafe. Plan to arrive a little early and meet in the parking area so the group can begin together. Registration is required. To stay comfortable, bring sunscreen and insect repellent, close-toed shoes, a light jacket or windbreaker and a hat as needed, something small to sit on such as a pad or folded towel, and a notebook with a pen for any reflections. The session is led by Stephanie Hudson, a mentor and meditation guide, a Kripalu-certified Mindful Outdoor Guide and INSIGHT Facilitator, who supports individuals and groups in developing embodied self-awareness and meaningful connection with self, relationships, and the living world.

Step into the annual Art in Bloom exhibition that blends fine art with floral design at the John Paul Jones House. You can tour floral arrangements inspired by the art, architecture, and collections inside this historic home. The exhibition is included with admission, and tickets are available at the John Paul Jones House or 10 Middle Street. Members get in for free.

Sunday Brunch at Shearwater Restaurant at Stage Neck Inn pairs a relaxed coastal atmosphere with views of York Harbor just beyond your table. Each week, the menu features a mix of sweet breakfast favorites, savory classics, and handcrafted cocktails. Make it a weekly tradition in a setting filled with fresh ocean air and an easy pace. Please note that there is no separate lunch menu on Sundays.

Relive the fun of a school book fair at a beach book fair presented by The Booktenders and YBBC. Browse tables to discover new reads while enjoying a drink, with non alcoholic options available. There will be books for kids, so families are welcome. York Beach Eats Food Truck will be on site, and live music with Paul Richard follows the fair. Parking options include a nearby town lot with app based payment, areas around the ball field, street parking, and spots near Ellis Park and Short Sands. You can also arrive by bike and use the available rack, or simply come on foot.

Enjoy live modern country music at Lobster in the Rough with a band performing in a contemporary country style.

At Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club, Larry McCray, a 2024 inductee into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame, brings modern blues marked by gritty, soulful vocals and commanding guitar. His newest album, Heartbreak City, produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, opens a more personal chapter and showcases his breadth, moving from tender, soul-leaning ballads to high-energy blues. On that record, tracks like Bye Bye Blues nod to the roots that shaped him, while Bright Side blends feeling with a touch of humor. The release follows 2022’s Blues Without You, which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Blues chart. Born in Smackover, Arkansas and raised in Michigan, McCray has refined his sound over decades on the road and in the studio, working alongside artists such as B.B. King and Buddy Guy.

Clipper Tavern hosts karaoke with KJ-Dave O. back on the mic. Choose from a large song library and sing solo or pair up for a duet, supported by a friendly crowd and a solid sound system. The bar is fully stocked, there is a happy hour later in the night, and the kitchen serves a full menu with a late night option after that. It also works well for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, or an easy night out with friends. The venue is open 365 days a year.