Children's Day returns this weekend. Here's everything you need to know

PORTSMOUTH - Children’s Day will return this Sunday, May 1 after COVID cancellations the past two years. All the downtown springtime tradition's fun and entertainment will be back, too.

Pro Portsmouth, Inc., has presented Children's Day each year for two decades to offer young families a fun Sunday afternoon in the city, and downtown merchants, sponsors and local non-profits a chance to connect with young families.

This year's Children's Day will run from noon to 4 p.m.in several locations around downtown Portsmouth.

"I am so grateful we are able to have the opportunity to put Children's Day on again," said Barbara Massar, executive director of Pro Portsmouth. "To bring this event back to the kids of the Seacoast is wonderful."

Those interested in attending should go to the Pro Portsmouth website at proportsmouth.org/events/childrens-day/ and download the PDF of the Children's Day map or consult it on their cellphones. The map indicates with letters of the alphabet where activities and events will be going on. Locations around downtown will display signs with their corresponding letter of the alphabet so families can walk from activity to activity. All the day's events and participating businesses are listed on the back of the map.

More: Check out the map for Children's Day activities

"All around downtown, there'll be crafts, adventures and giveaways," Massar said. "It's a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon."

All events are free and open to the public, and no advance reservation is required.

"I'm new to New Hampshire and to New England, so I'm just learning the city of Portsmouth and its traditions," said Chris Parker, CEO of Northeast Federal Credit Union, a sponsor of Children's Day. "We want to celebrate all aspects of our community, our future leaders and our future citizens, and we're proud to be able to celebrate them."

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The biggest events will be the Block Party on Pleasant Street in Portsmouth, which is where the musical and dance entertainment will be as well as booths of local nonprofits and sponsors, and on the waterfront along Market Street near the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company parking lot where there will be bouncy houses, inflatables, a karate demo, the N.H. Astronomical Society will be on hand and the Seacoast Kiwanis will be giving away free bike helmets and fitting children with the right one for them.

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"I sponsor Children's Day because I firmly believe in children's educational enrichment and a brand new way for kids to go out and experience things, be confident and learn while doing," said Mia Iacovelli, owner of Snapology of Dover, which is also a sponsor of the event and will have a booth at the Block Party. "Children's Day is a wonderful interactive opportunity for learning with fun."

With fingers crossed for good weather on Sunday afternoon, Massar and her staff are excited for the revitalized event.

"We're all excited in a lot of ways," Massar said, adding when you present an event for 20 years and then don't for two years, "It kind of feels new again. You look at things in a different way. I hope many families come out and have a wonderful Sunday."

How much does Children's Day cost?

There is no admission charge to any of the Children's Day activities or entertainment. It's all free and open to the public. No advance registration or reservations required.

What is the Children's Day Block Party?

The Block Party takes place on Pleasant Street, which is blocked off for the afternoon, next to the North Church in Portsmouth. Sponsored this year by Northeast Federal Credit Union, the Block Party will feature booths of local nonprofits and sponsoring businesses with activities and crafts for children. The Block Party is also where the stage for entertainment is. Taking the stage at the corner of Pleasant and State streets to perform will be TJ Wheeler & Friends at 12:15 p.m., Lindsay & Her Puppet Pals at 1:45 p.m.; Seacoast Civic Dance Company at 3 p.m. and there'll be a closing and drawing for raffle prizes at 3:45 p.m.

Who won the Children's Day logo contest?

Aidan Dargenio, 10, of Rye was the winning artist of this year's Children's Day logo. His winning logo design was recently unveiled in a ceremony at Northeast Federal Credit Union on Borthwick Avenue in Portsmouth.

"Some of my favorite colors are orange and yellow," Aidan said so that's why he chose those colors. "And I made my character a starfish because New Hampshire is known for fish so I wanted it to be something from the sea."

Aidan said it took him about 20 minutes to design the logo because he draws a lot of characters. "I like to draw and I like making my own characters," he said. He entered the contest at the suggestion of his fourth grade teacher at Rye Elementary School, Jacqui DeFreze, who made designing a logo an assignment for her class. "He was the first to turn a logo in," DeFreze said.

Where should we park?

There is no special event pricing for parking at the city's two parking garages during Children's Day. Parking meters in the city will be in operation from noon to 8 p.m. as usual on a Sunday. Visit the city's Park Portsmouth page at cityofportsmouth.com/publicworks/parkportsmouth

Is there a rain date?

Children's Day will take place rain or shine unless a storm of unusual magnitude is forecast.

For more information, visit proportsmouth.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Children's Day set to take place in Portsmouth NH May 1