New Bedford Portuguese Feast & Blessed Sacrament 2023
The New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, also known as . the Portuguese Feast is the largest event the city has every year. More than that, it is the largest Portuguese feast in the world and the largest ethnic festival in New England. The feast was founded in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants who wanted to recreate the festivities of their home island. The feast is a four-day event, officially kicking off at 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 3rd
August 3, 2023 – Thursday – 6:00 PM – 11:45 PM
August 4, 2023 – Friday – 5:00 PM – 11:45 PM
August 5, 2023 – Saturday – 12 Noon – 11:45 PM
August 6, 2023 – Sunday – 12 Noon – 11:45 PM
OPENING DAY:
The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament commences Thursday with the assembly of the Festeiros (Feast Committee Members) at the intersection of Earle Street and Acushnet Avenue. Led by the Feast President, the Festeiros march in a special procession down Earle Street to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church which is located at the corner of Earle Street and Madeira Avenue. At the church, Father Daniel O. Reis celebrates a special Benediction to the Blessed Sacrament.
ENTERTAINMENT:
Continuous live entertainment on four stages featuring top name entertainment plus cabaret style music and Fado singers in the quiet atmosphere of the Courtyard Café at the Museum of Madeiran Heritage.
FOOD & DRINK:
Traditional Madeiran Portuguese dinner with numerous menu choices for full dinners in the main pavilion. Cook-you-own barbecue beef (carne d’espeto), sweet malassadas (fried dough)plus linguica (sausage) and baccalau (codfish) sandwiches. Hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries. Madeira wine imported in giant casks by special agreement with the Madeiran Government.
FAMILY FUN DAY SPONSORED BY WALGREENS
The Family Day program has grown over the years and this year is chock full of wonderful entertainment that will please the child
SPECIAL:
Kids day and half-price senior specials on Saturday afternoon- Saturday, Free admission to the Museum of Madeiran Heritage, largest and longest parade in New Bedford starting at Brooklawn Park, traditional folk dances, family oriented carnival midway, street vendors and much more!in us all. Featuring both kid-themed activities such as face painting and more…
PARADE:
The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament will host its annual parade on Sunday, in the City of New Bedford. The parade will start at 2p.m. Over forty different organizations will march the one mile route from Brooklawn Park to the Feast grounds at Madeira Field.
CARNIVAL MIDWAY RIDES
Sunday August 6th, 12pm – 11:45pm – with Unlimited Ride Wristband from 12pm-5pm for $35 when purchased in advance online ($40 if purchased on site). All sales final, no refunds.
Magic Money credits can be used on the rides, games, and food! Carnival rides range from 4-6 Magic Money credits. Food stands also accept all major credit cards and cash payments!
Where do I park?
Now, that’s a tough one. The Feast has a designated parking area off of Bellevue Ave. The Madeira grounds is located in the middle of a dense residential neighborhood. For free parking, your best bet is to scour the streets around the feast, or find some enterprising home owner who has turned his yard into a parking lot. Depending on how close, expect to pay $5 to $10.
What should I do when I get there?
If you intended to drink an alcoholic beverage while at the Feast, find one of the many “WRISTBAND” booths scattered around the grounds. Have your valid driver’s license ready to be scanned. The machine will issue a colored wrist band (they are different colors every day) with your name and the last four digits of your license number. The volunteer will place it on your wrist and you’re ready to go. There is no charge for the wristband, and you MUST wear it to consume any alcoholic beverage. This is a very strict rule.
What’s next?
Tickets. The Feast operates on a cashless system, which means you must buy tickets ($1 each) to buy any food or drink. We would like to give it away, but the Treasurer keeps reminding us that we donate our profits to charity. We do NOT permit visitors to enter or leave the Feast grounds with any beverage or coolers of any kind. Tickets may be purchased from a dozen ticket machines located throughout the grounds and also at some of Wristband stands. Just look for the large TICKETS signs.
Location 50 Madiera ave New Bedford,MA
