Market Square Day turns 45 in Portsmouth. Here is what to expect at 2022 event.

PORTSMOUTH  - Market Square Day will return to its traditional glory on Saturday, June 11 with all the events and entertainment you expect of the festival that transforms downtown Portsmouth into a pedestrian-friendly family fair celebrating summer's start on the Seacoast. This year is the 45th festival and many on the Seacoast have a Market Square Day memory.

Kim Heintzelman, Portsmouth branch manager for People's United Bank, which is sponsoring Market Square Day, remembers going to the first Market Square Day 1978 and the importance of the tradition it started for the city, for businesses and non-profits, for so many families.

"I went to the first Market Square Day so I am excited to be a part of it and to continue to be a supporting partner," she said. "I think it's one of those things I remember as a child we loved  to go to. When I was 7 or 8, I bought a book there with my own money and I still have it. I remember the crowds in the streets."

"I am truly a proponent of any way we can support the community,"  Heintzelman said. "The community is our backbone, the business community is what keeps us ticking every day. We owe it to them to support them back."

Barbara Massar, Pro Portsmouth executive director, said the idea of Market Square Day was born in meetings in 1977 as a way to celebrate the city's downtown revitalization efforts which redesigned Market Square. The first Market Square Day was held in June 1978.

Last week, Pro Portsmouth unveiled the logo for this year's Market Square Day. Each year the non-profit holds a logo contest inviting local artists to create their vision of the longtime city celebration. This year, Kelly Goodwin, who is senior marketing designer at Heinemann Publishing in Portsmouth and has her own graphic design company Kellsanns, is the winning artist. It's not her first time designing the winning logo: She won the logo contest in 2018, too. That year not only did she have the pleasure of seeing her logo design on T-shirts and promotional materials, she also ran the Market Square Day 10K and received the race medal bearing her logo. It's her goal to do that again this year.

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"Market Square Day is so fun," said Goodwin, who grew up in Portsmouth and now lives in Dover. "It's so festive so this was an opportunity to let loose and play with color. It is so fun to illustrate this beautiful town."

"Market Square Day has always been specifically special to my family as my uncle provided the lights and sound for the event for many years growing up," she added, noting her whole family would go to the festival every year.

Goodwin's winning logo will appear on all 10K race and volunteer T-shirts as well as the festival T-shirt which will be available for purchase at the Pro Portsmouth booth.

The unveiling of the winning logo was held at the Islington Street offices of Duckfeet, which is a sponsor of Market Square Day for the first time this year. Justin Brady, one of the owners of Rust & Salt, which is the U.S. distributor for the Danish shoe brand, said they've wanted to get involved in the community since moving here a couple years ago and are glad to have the opportunity to do so now.

During the logo unveiling press conference, Massar reflected on the cancellations and delays of Market Square Day during the pandemic. "We estimate we lost about $200,000 the last couple of years," she said. "Like most of us, it will take years to recover from this."

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She noted this year with the city-approved outdoor dining spaces in the downtown area, the festival has lost 40 vendor spaces it filled in the past, estimating that's about a $10,000 to $12,000 loss in revenue for the festival.

She thanked all the festival's sponsors and City Manager Karen Conard and city staff for working so diligently with Pro Portsmouth to make the festival happen safely for everyone.

"The last few years have been so strange and we've learned that gathering community is important," Massar said.

When is Market Square Day 2022?

Market Square Day, traditionally celebrated the second Saturday of June, will take place on Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Booths will line Congress Street, Daniel Street, Market Street and Pleasant Street in downtown Portsmouth. The opening ceremonies and the start line for the 10K road race are in front of the North Church in Market Square. Visit proportsmouth.org/events/market-square-day/ for information and to see and download a map.

Where can you park on Market Square Day?

Parking in the Foundry Garage, located at 100 Foundry Place, is a $3 flat rate from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 11. Regular hourly rates will be in effect at the High-Hanover Garage. Metered parking will be enforced on Market Square Day at city meters from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m..

Streets closed due to the festival will be posted with regard to parking restrictions. Any vehicles parked on the streets closed as part of the festival will be towed at the owner’s expense. These streets will be closed to on-the-street parking from 4 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 11.

For more information regarding parking in Portsmouth, go to parkportsmouth.com.

What streets will be closed on Market Square Day?

Downtown streets close for the event at 4 a.m. on Saturday, June 11 and will reopen at approximately 7 p.m. Streets to be closed are Congress Street, Market Street (Bow Street to the Square), Ladd Street, Fleet Street, Chestnut Street (Congress to Porter), Porter Street, Church Street, Pleasant Street (State Street to the Square), Penhallow Street and Daniel Street (Chapel Street to the Square).

Is there shuttle service to Market Square Day this year?

There will be no Shuttle Service from remote parking this year.

Will there be live music at Market Square Day?

There will be a stage on Pleasant Street where musical acts will perform free all day. The Maine Marimba Ensemble, which performs polyrhythmic arrangements of traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean music on handcrafted marimbas, will perform from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. RMS5 (Rock My Soul 5) will perform gospel and blues from 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Vital Tones will take the stage from 2 to 2:45 p.m. The Rockingham Groove will play from 3:15 to 4 p.m.

Can I volunteer to help on Market Square Day?

A variety of volunteer opportunities are open. Information regarding volunteering is available by contacting Stacy MacLean at 433-4398 Ext. 4 or coordinator@proportsmouth.org. Visit proportsmouth.org/volunteer.

When is the Market Square Day 10K?

The 10K kicks off the Market Square Day Festival, and will start at 9 a.m., Saturday, June 11 in the center of Market Square in Portsmouth.

How can I participate in the MSD 10K?

You can register online proportsmouth.org/msd-10k-registration-information/

Registration fee is $45, as early bird registration has passed. All registration closes on June 6th. There is no race day registration. Registration fees are non-refundable.

What is the 10K race course like?

The race begins in front of the North Church at Market Square in downtown Portsmouth at 9 a.m. The 10K winds its way through downtown Portsmouth ending at Strawbery Banke Museum where the finish line is on Marcy Street between Prescott Park and Strawbery Banke.

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Rules of the road for the MSD 10K

Participating without registering is prohibited. Running with strollers is allowed, but organizers request you run at the back of the pack. Those wishing to walk (non-competitively) the course are welcome to do so, but street closures and intersection traffic control have a time limit. The finish line will be removed from the street between 10:30 and 11 a.m. in order to reopen the South End vehicular traffic. Dogs are prohibited on the race course and at the Hospitality Area at Strawbery Banke. Amplified sound or music on the course is prohibited; ear buds are not recommended. There is no storage for personal belongings.

Is there a rain date for Market Square Day?

Due to the size, scope and impact of the event, the festival  and 10K go on rain or shine.

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Market Square Day in Portsmouth NH marks 45th anniversary