Genre Cultural | Founded 1979 Years active 37 | |
Location(s) Ferry Street in Newark, New Jersey | ||
The Portugal Day Festival in Newark, New Jersey is a street festival celebrating the Portuguese people, language, and their culture. First organized in 1979 by the Bernardino Coutinho Foundation, since 2010 the Festival has been organized by the Union of Portuguese American Clubs of New Jersey (União de Clubes Luso-Americanos de New Jersey), or UCLANJ. Although various events occur the week prior, the actual street festival typically takes place on the weekend closest to June 10, the official Portugal Day.
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Facts About Portugal: The cultural festival takes months of planning. Plans include inviting guests to be Grand Marshal, Honorary Grand Marshal, or any of the prized people in attendance over the Portugal Day weekend. There are also many events prior to the big weekend, such as the Friendship Night Gala, that bring out the Portuguese community.
Television broadcast
The festivities are often telecast, live or recorded, to stations not only in New Jersey, but also in Portugal and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa and South America.
Parade
On the Sunday of that weekend, there is a parade with many floats representing various organizations from throughout the state, both Portuguese and non-Portuguese. Every year there is a Honorary Grand Marshal, a Grand Marshal, as well as many other prized personalities.