Celebrations of Portugal’s National Day Get Underway in Several US Cities
The celebrations of Portugal’s National Day, also known as Dia de Portugal, are set to kick off in several cities across the United States this weekend. The festivities, which will take place throughout June, will feature traditional Portuguese music, dance, food, and wine.
In Farmingville, New York, the 2nd Annual Portugal Day Festival is scheduled to start on Friday, with several musical and dance performances, including a folk dance show, as well as traditional Portuguese food and wine. The festival, which will run until Sunday, promises to be an exciting event for the local Portuguese community.
Meanwhile, in Mineola, New York, the highlight of the celebrations will be the traditional parade, which is set to take place on June 8. According to the Observador, this will be the 10th edition of the parade, which first took place in 2014. The town of Mineola has a significant Portuguese population, with around 15% of its 20,000 residents being of Portuguese descent.
The celebrations in Mineola will also include a flag-raising ceremony on Friday, as well as several musical performances. In nearby Mount Vernon, New York, the Portuguese community will come together to celebrate the Feast of Saint Anthony and Portugal’s National Day on June 8 with a picnic featuring traditional Portuguese food and live music.
In New York City, the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, the longest bridge in the state, will be illuminated with the colors of the Portuguese flag on June 10 to mark Portugal’s National Day, Camões Day, and the Portuguese Communities Day. This initiative, which was first launched two years ago, is organized by the New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference (NYPALC).
The Observador reports that the NYPALC is inviting the community to join them for the 3rd Annual Illumination of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, which will take place at sunset. "Join NYPALC and the Portuguese community for our 3rd Annual Illumination of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, in the vibrant colors of the Portuguese flag, in honor of Portugal’s National Day… Don’t miss this breathtaking tribute," the organization said in a statement.
In Newark, New Jersey, the celebrations will be extensive, with a flag-raising ceremony on Saturday, a mass dedicated to Portugal’s National Day on June 4, and a festival featuring several concerts and performances, including traditional Portuguese music and dance. The festival, which will take place over the weekend of June 6-8, will culminate in a grand parade through Ferry Street, which is known as the heart of Newark’s "Little Portugal."
The Observador notes that the streets of Newark are expected to be filled with thousands of people, mostly Portuguese, dressed in the colors of the national flag, to watch the parade. The centenary Sport Club Português de Newark will also be hosting an event featuring traditional Portuguese food, art exhibitions, and folk music.
The Consulate General of Portugal in Newark is also organizing an event on Friday to celebrate Portuguese identity, culture, and history, as well as to honor the poet Luís de Camões and the Portuguese communities around the world. According to the Observador, the ceremony will be attended by several authorities and will provide an opportunity to strengthen ties between Portugal and the local Portuguese community.
Finally, in Massachusetts, the Consulate General of Portugal in Boston is hosting a free concert on Sunday to celebrate Portuguese culture and music. The concert, which will take place at the Cambridge Public Library, will feature a jazz quartet performing works by Carlos Paredes and other Portuguese composers.
