Day of Portugal Festival 2017

CONTACT INFO :

Fax : (001) (508) 324-2584.
E-mail : aoliveira@fallriverma.org .
Google Map : https://www.google.fr/maps/place/City+Gates+Plaza/@41.701794,-71.164068,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e4f8ea135c1ee3:0xf8a83f671f74b154 .

DESCRIPTION :

Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. of Fall River officially unveiled the "Portas da Cidade" or "Gates of the City", Fall River's newest attraction on its waterfront along with Ponta Delgada Mayor Berta Cabral on July 22, 2006. Project Committee Chairman Francisco Cabral oversaw the fundraising for the monument as well as all phases of its development. The Orquestra Ligeira, a 21-member group from Ponta Delgada, the city that co-sponsored the construction of the Gates, was on hand to provide a musical accompaniment to the ceremony.

The 30 by 60 foot monument is a replica of a structure in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island's capital city and has been under construction since the first stones arrived in March, 2004. Many of Fall River's citizens immigrated from São Miguel and the other six islands in the Azores. A sister-city pact between Fall River and Ponta Delgada was signed in 1978, and the relationship between the two cities has grown under the leadership of Mayor Lambert and Mayor Berta Maria Correia de Almeida de Melo Cabral of Ponta Delgada. The Gates are part of the City's Waterfront Access Plan.

ABOUT THE EVENT :

DAY OF PORTUGAL FESTIVAL 2017.

Portugal Day, officially in Portuguese "Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas" (Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities), is Portugal's National Day celebrated annually on 10 June.

Although officially observed only in Portugal, Portuguese citizens and emigrants throughout the world celebrate this holiday. The date commemorates the death of national literary icon Luís de Camões on 10 June 1580.

Camões wrote "Os Lusíadas" (usually translated as The Lusiads), Portugal's national epic poem celebrating Portuguese history and achievements. The poem focuses mainly on the 15th-century Portuguese explorations, which brought fame and fortune to the country. The poem, considered one of the finest and most important works in Portuguese literature, became a symbol for the great feats of the Portuguese Empire.

Camões was an adventurer who lost one eye fighting in Ceuta, wrote the poem while traveling, and survived a shipwreck in Cochinchina (a region of present-day Vietnam). According to popular folklore, Camões saved his epic poem by swimming with one arm while keeping the other arm above water. Since his date of birth is unknown, his date of death is celebrated as Portugal's National Day.

Although Camões became a symbol for Portugal nationalism, his death coincided with the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580 that eventually resulted in Philip II of Spain claiming the Portuguese throne. Portugal was then ruled by three generations of Spanish kings during the Iberian Union (1580–1640). On 1 December 1640, the country regained its independence once again by expelling the Spanish during the Portuguese Restoration War and making John of Bragança, King John IV of Portugal.

During the authoritarian Estado Novo regime in the 20th century, Camões was used as a symbol for the Portuguese nation. In 1944, at the dedication ceremony of the National Stadium in Oeiras (near Lisbon), Prime Minister of Portugal António de Oliveira Salazar referred to 10 June as Dia da Raça (Day of the Portuguese Race). The notion of a Portuguese "race" served his nationalist purposes.

Portugal Day celebrations were officially suspended during the Carnation Revolution in 1974. Celebrations resumed after 1974 and were expanded to include the Comunidades Portuguesas (Portuguese Comunities), Portuguese emigrants and their descendants living in communities all around the world.

In the United States, Portuguese-Americans celebrate the holiday throughout the country, especially in Portuguese-American neighborhoods.

This year, the Day of Portugal Festival of the city of Fall River, MA occurs during 4 days : June 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th.

Start Time : 6:00 PM.
This is an all day FREE EVENT !

Outdoor Concert and Festival - All Ages - Portuguese Foods and Drinks Available - Raffle Available to Win Trips to Portugal and Sport Events Tickets, and Plenty of Portuguese Fare for Sale.

Some outdoor parking lots are available around Firestone Pond.

Organized by :

DAY OF PORTUGAL - FALL RIVER
Promedia Audiovisuals Office.
203 Palmer Street.
Fall River, MA 02724-3224.
UNITED STATES.
Phones : (001) (508) 678-8145 / (001) (774) 526-0852.
Fax : (001) (508) 672-1282.
E-mails : info@promedia-av.com / florianocabral@yahoo.com .
Website : www.facebook.com/diadeportugalfallriver .

DESCRIPTION :

Day of Portugal - Fall River's Organizing Committee celebrates the Portuguese heritage and culture by organizing the annual Day of Portugal of the city of Fall River, MA in mid-June.

Organizing Committee members are :

- Floriano Cabral.
- Kevin Santos.
- Michael Benevides.
- Michael Louro.
- Jaime Louro.
- Kevin DaPonte.
- Luís Pacheco.
- Derrick DeMelo.
- Tony Rodrigues.
- Paulo Rodrigues.
- John Gonçalves.

President : Mr. Floriano Cabral.

LINEUP :

The Festival kicks off at 6:00 PM.

At 6:15 PM : The First Part.
- Flag Raising Ceremony.

At 7:00 PM :
- American comedy troupe of Portuguese descent, "The Portuguese Kids".

At 8:30 PM :
- American rock band "The Great Escape" (Journey Tribute Band).

At 10:00 PM : The Second Part.
- JORGE FERREIRA's CONCERT !!!