Viva Portugal Festa in New Bedford

Zeiterion Performance Arts Center is hosting the Street Festa – Viva Portugal on Saturday, May 4. This year’s 4th edition of the festival brings once again the tastes, sights, and sounds of Portuguese culture and heritage to downtown New Bedford. The event is free, and you don’t have to be Portuguese to participate in this family-friendly festa. All are welcome!

The Viva Portugal – Festa is part of the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center recreational program and has the support of the Consulate of Portugal in New Bedford, Luso-American Foundation for Development (FLAD), DeMello International Center, Art Institute of Portuguese Contemporary Culture, Luso Financial, and NEA National Endowment for the Arts.

The festival begins at 1:00 p.m. and lasts until 7:00 p.m. The program includes culinary demonstrations, folklore, fado, music including the performances of Fall River’s Santa Cecília Band, the popular musical group – Band Faith, the comedians group – The Portuguese Kids, dances of the folkloric ranch – Discovery Language Academy and, at 8:00 p.m. the famous fadistas from Portugal, Camané and Ana Sofia Varela, will perform at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center.

Camané performs at The Zeiterion. Tickets available at the box office.

8:00 Camané and Ana Sofia Varela perform at The Zeiterion. Buy tickets here!

Maria Lawton, author of the book “Azorean Greenbean” and recently presented a series of cooking shows on the North American TV channel PBS, will give demonstrations of Portuguese cuisine, namely one of the ways to make codfish.

Maria Dias, also the author of a cookbook (“Taste Portugal, 101 Easy Portuguese Recipes” and creator of “Tia Maria’s Blog”, will also give some demonstrations.

There will also be an exhibition of photographs and videos about Lisbon, a Tagus Press presentation by UMass Dartmouth and Sagres Vacations.

The Festival will also have a variety of snacks and drinks, and activities for the whole family, including whaling displays, a presentation of the Azorean Maritime Heritage Society, face painting and many other attractions for children.

ABOUT ZEITERION

The Zeiterion is a non-profit performing arts center that entertains, educates, and inspires South Coast Massachusetts with an array of high quality performing artists. It provides engaging learning opportunities that contribute to the cultural, social and economic vitality of our community.

HERE IS THE FULL PROGRAM

VIVA PORTUGAL STAGE

1:00-1:30
Folkloric Dance: Discovery Language Academy Folkloric Dance Performance Group
1:45-2:45
David DeMello and guitarristas perform fado – the evocative, soulful music of Portugal
3:45-4:30
Portuguese Kids Comedy Troupe: highlighting the funnier side of growing up as kids of immigrants
4:45-5:30
Band Faith: An eight-member Portuguese-American band
6:45-7:30
St. Cecelia Marching Band
8:00
Camané and Ana Sofia Varela perform at The Zeiterion. Tickets available at the box office.

COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS

Watch cooking demonstrations with celebrity Portuguese chefs! See how they create dishes and sample a taste. The chefs are available to sign books after their demonstration.

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1:30-2:20
Maria Lawton cooks a fresh cod dish in a garlic, onion and tomatoes. Known as the “Azorean Greenbean,” Maria has made it her quest to research and recreate the classic recipes of her Azorean heritage for her book, “Azorean Cooking,” now in its eighth printing.

2:30-3:20
Maria Dias, Cook Book author, Creator of Tia Maria’s Blog, and Chef. Creating hundreds of Portuguese dishes made easy for anyone to cook! Her cook book “Taste Portugal, 101 Easy Portuguese Recipes” will be available for purchase.

LISBON TRAVELOUGE

4:00-4:50
Feed your wanderlust! See what’s it’s like to be in Lisbon with photos, videos and Portuguese pastries. Presented by UMass Dartmouth’s Tagus Press and Sagres Vacations.

CLICK HERE for Tickets

PORTUGUESE FOOD & DRINK

The Madeiran Feast: caçoila and linguiça sandwiches and free hot dogs for children
Portu Galo: Portuguese sandwiches and small bites
Day of Portugal: malassadas, cod fish cakes, favas
Ginga! Try the Portuguese sour cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup on Spring Street
Full Bar: located on Spring Street
Beer & Wine: served by the Feast of The Blessed Sacrament on Spring Street
Pastries & Coffee: served in the Taverna at The Zeiterion.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Mini-Whale Boat Races! Hosted by the Azorean Maritime Heritage Society
Soccer with the New England Revolution! Put your soccer skills to the test with their accuracy kick game!
Read! Browse through a children’s collection of Portuguese books and magazines from the Casa de Saudade Library.
Imagine! Get swept away in the Portuguese-English bilingual story hour by the Casa de Saudade Library.
Crafts! Create paper puppets with Portuguese cultural symbols like the iconic rooster, known as the Galo de Barcelos.
Face Painting! Or as we say in Portuguese “pintar a cara”
Play! Try your hand at jenga, korn hole, and Connect Four

Viva Portugal Sponsors

DeMello International Center
FLAD – Fundação Luso Americana
Consulate of Portugal in New Bedford
Arte Institute of Portuguese Contemporary Culture
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
Luso Financial
NEA National Endowment for the Arts

8:00 Camané and Ana Sofia Varela perform at The Zeiterion. Buy tickets here!

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