Kids to Rule City on Children's Day

This Sunday's 22nd annual Children's Day promises to be bigger and better than ever with loads of live music, colorful characters, face painting and some pretty cool new sights and sounds.

Barbara Massar, executive director of Pro Portsmouth, said the event will be held from 12 noon to 4 p.m. throughout much of the downtown. For four hours on Sunday, kids and their parents will rule the city. According to Pro Portsmouth's website, more than 10,000 children typically converge on the city to enjoy several activities, music and games. The 2013 Children's Day logo created by Bridget Rooney, 8, of Portsmouth will also be displayed throughout the event and printed on Children's Day T-shirts.

Massar said it will feature plenty of live music and face painting. The day kicks off at the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. on Market Street when several characters, including Elmo, Tigger and Eeyore, Dora the Explorer, Nemo and Curious George arrive on the M/V Thomas Laighton from Character Island.

According to Pro Portsmouth's website, Children's Day guests can also board the M/V Thomas Laighton and cruise up and down the Piscataqua River.

Massar said the Seacoast Mavericks will also hold a raffle to give girls and boys a chance to be bat boys and bat girls during their baseball season.

She said Extreme Air would do a jump rope show on Hanover and Market streets and the Seacoast Repertory Theatre would do some performances from "Godspell." There will also be a huge block party on Pleasant Street with live music and dancing, according to the group's website.

According to Pro Portsmouth's website, Children's Day is sponsored by the following Portsmouth area businesses and organizations: Support for Children's Day comes from: 2013 Program Partners Citizens Bank and King Real Estate and Shareholders: Isles of Shoals Steamship Co., Service Credit Union, G.Willikers, Treehouse Toys, xfinity, Measured Progress, Hampshire First, Acorn School, Community Child Care Center of Portsmouth, Eyelook Optical, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, Kilwins, NH Association for the Blind/Portsmouth Lions Club, Infinite Imaging, ad Cetera and the Richie McFarland Children's Center. The Official Beverage Sponsor of all Pro Portsmouth events is Coca Cola of Northern New England.