The Boston Portuguese Festival, now in its 13th edition, will be holding a first-of-its-kind event—a Day of Portugal Celebration at Boston’s City Hall Plaza. This year’s event holds a special meaning, actually taking part on the Day of Portugal, Camões, and of the Portuguese Communities (Dia de Portugal e das Comunidades Portuguesas), which commemorates the legacy of Portuguese author Luís de Camões. The Day of Portugal Celebration will take place between 3:00 and 8:00 pm on Sunday, June 10th.
The Boston Portuguese Festival’s annual flag-raising at Boston’s City Hall Plaza commemorates the contributions of Portuguese-Americans to the City of Boston and across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This year’s flag-raising ceremony—taking place during the Day of Portugal Celebration—will feature the presence of the Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister António Costa and President of the Regional Government of the Azores, Vasco Cordeiro. Portuguese-Americans Ana Silva and Sonia Bettencourt, will be singing the national anthems, accompanied by 3 philharmonics: St. Anthony’s (Cambridge), Banda Recreativa Portuguesa de Peabody, and the Banda do Espírito Santo de Lowell.
This year’s BPF is a special collaboration between the Consulate-General of Portugal and Boston, the Consulate of Portugal in New Bedford as several partner organizations, including the Luso-American Education Foundation, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS). The Day of Portugal Celebration is a part of the Month of Portugal series of event, supported by the Embassy of Portugal in Washington, D.C.It’s great to see the Portuguese community in MA getting together, in an event of this dimension at the Boston City Plaza. This shows that the Portuguese-Americans in MA are alive and proud of their culture and traditions.
The event features a diverse program of activities across City Hall Plaza, including traditional folklore and contemporary entertainment. This year’s performers include Call of Booty, Melo Musik, Brianna Vieira, Jorge Ferreira and coming from Portugal, Chris Ribeiro. Folklore performances will be provided by the Rancho Folclórico do Alto Minho of Norwood, MA and the Grupo Folclórico da Cidade de Taunton, MA. Other participants include the Portuguese-American Road Riders (Lowell, MA), the Bela Vista whaleboat of the Azorean Maritime Heritage Society, and a Lusitano Horse demonstration by Sons of the Wind Farm of Merrimac, MA.
The event is bringing together over 40 Portuguese-American businesses, clubs, community organizations and groups from across Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Portuguese and American cuisines will be available for purchase by area restaurants.
Contacted by Feel Portugal magazine, Paulo Martins, Counselor for the Portuguese Communities in New England and member of the organizing committee, told us.”It’s great to see the Portuguese community in MA getting together, in an event of this dimension and diversity at the Boston City Plaza. This shows that the Portuguese-Americans in MA are alive and proud of their culture and traditions.”
The BPF’s annual youth event will also be held during the Celebration. The youth event brings together Portuguese language students of all ages from across Massachusetts. It includes a craft, face-painting and more.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit their website, Facebook, or Instagram. The event’s official hashtag is #2018BPF.
