Recordações de Portugal Folklore Group at the Boston Portuguese Festival
Watch the Recordações de Portugal Folklore Group of New Bedford perform at the 20th Boston Portuguese Festival at Boston City Hall Plaza, June 8, 2025.
- New Bedford’s Day of Portugal celebration begins June 18 with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall.
- A free, three-day street festival will take place at Madeira Field from June 19 to June 21.
- The festival will feature traditional Portuguese food, music, and folkloric dancing.
- Headliners include singers Jorge Ferreira on Friday, the Moda Nova Band on Saturday, and Carlos Pires on Sunday.
(This story was updated to include new information)
New Bedford is ramping up for its multi-day celebration of the Day of Portugal.
The commemoration will kick off Thursday, June 18 in downtown New Bedford and move to Madeira Field in the North End on Friday for a three-day, free admission street festival.
“We’re expecting a strong turnout and a great sense of community throughout the weekend,” said Dulce Matos, the president of the 2026 New Bedford Day of Portugal Committee. “The Day of Portugal Feast has always been about bringing people together to celebrate culture, tradition, and heritage, and this year we’re building on that with an even more welcoming and organized event.”
Her team has been hard at work to create a memorable, overall cultural experience that engages all the senses by amalgamating music performances and colorful folkloric dancing with traditional foods and regional handicrafts.
“From live music and entertainment to the food and family-friendly atmosphere, everything is coming together in a way that highlights Portuguese culture while making it enjoyable for everyone whether you’re deeply connected to the culture or just coming to experience it,” Matos said.
She said her committee is proud of how the event continues to grow while staying true to its roots.
“It’s a great opportunity for families, friends, and visitors to come together, celebrate Portuguese culture, and enjoy a weekend that has something for everyone,” Matos said.
Although the Day of Portugal is officially celebrated on June 10, Matos said her committee made a conscious decision to schedule the New Bedford commemoration for later in the month so it would not coincide with the celebrations being held in Fall River and Providence.
“These celebrations are important across the region, and we wanted to make sure people could enjoy all of them without having to choose,” she said. “Spacing things out helps support each event and strengthens the overall Portuguese community presence.”
Celebration to kick off with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall
The 2026 New Bedford Day of Portugal celebration will kick off on Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m., with the raising of the Portuguese and American flags at New Bedford City Hall.
The ceremony will include a short speaking program as well as the singing of the national anthems of the United States and Portugal by Andrea Vargas.
The Discovery Language Academy Folkloric Group is expected to perform dances representing several regions of Portugal.
A public reception will follow in the Camões Hall of the Consulate of Portugal in New Bedford, located at 628 Pleasant St.
Three-day festival kicks off June 19 at Madeira Field
On Friday, June 19, a three-day arraial, a Portuguese-style street festival, will kick off at Madeira Field, located at 50 Madeira Ave.
“The new location has been a great fit,” Matos said. “It gives us more space to spread out, improve the layout, and create a better flow for attendees. It also allows us to continue growing the event while keeping it comfortable and accessible.”
The festival will kick off at 6 p.m. with a short parade, which will depart from the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church on Earle Street making its way towards Madeira Field, where a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place.
The Senhor da Pedra Band will play the Portuguese and American anthems, followed by a brief speaking program featuring elected officials and members of the Day of Portugal Committee.
The food booths will open shortly after.
When can you visit the 2026 New Bedford Day of Portugal Festival?
The New Bedford Day of Portugal Festival hours of operation are as follows:
- Friday, June 19: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
- Saturday, July 20: 1 p.m. to 12 a.m.
- Sunday, July 21: 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
What will be on the menu?
The free event will feature a variety of Portuguese foods, including some crowd-favorite options such as malassadas, grilled sardines, bifanas, favas and caçoila, along with hot dogs, burgers and french fries.
“We’ll have a great mix of traditional Portuguese favorites and classic festival food,” Matos said. “There’s something for everyone, whether you’re coming for the authentic flavors or just looking for something quick and familiar.”
Who will be performing at the 2026 New Bedford Day of Portugal?
Singer David de Melo will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Celebrated Portuguese-American singer, songwriter Jorge Ferreira, widely recognized as the ‘Portuguese King of Pop in the U.S.A.’ will perform at 9:30 p.m.
Luz Eterna, a family trio specializing in Portuguese and American reggae, will take the stage at 4 p.m., followed by Arlindo Andrade, who is most known for his song ‘Olá Transmontana,’ at 7 p.m. The Moda Nova Band will perform at 9:30 p.m.
The afternoon will be filled with folklore starting at 2 p.m., including the performances of the children’s Folkloric Group of the Discovery Language Academy of New Bedford, the Azorean Cultural Society Folkloric Group, the Peabody Folkloric Group and the Recordações de Portugal Folkloric Group.
“New this year, we’re also dedicating space for concertinas,” Matos said, highlighting the role the small, iconic instrument from the accordion family plays in traditional Portuguese folk music. “We really want to make this an authentic feast experience.”
Vovó Brito, a popular character created and performed by Hugo Brito, will provide some comedic relief at 6:30 p.m.
Carlos Pires, a popular music singer coming from Portugal, known for his festive, romantic, and accordion-driven tunes, will take the stage at 7 p.m. and bring the festivities to an end.
For more information, visit the New Bedford Day of Portugal Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064661320829
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.heraldnews.com ’
