Portugal Day Festival in Newark
| Portugal Day Festival | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Cultural |
| Dates | 1st or 2nd Weekend in June, Portugal Day |
| Location(s) |
 Ferry Street in Newark, New Jersey |
| Years active | 37 |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Patron(s) | Luís de Camões |
| Website | |
| 2011 Events | |
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.[1][2] 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.
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.
| Year | Honorary Grand Marshal | Grand Marshal | Prestigious Award | Man of the Year | Woman of the Year | Artist of the Year | Athlete of the Year | Medal of Honor | Fado Singer of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Jon S. Corzine | José Luís Pereira Carneiro | Louis LaSalle | José Paulino Conde Teixeira | Olga Gonçalves Rodrigues | Mena Leandro | José Rebimbas | Manuel Grova João Machado Luciana Abreu |
Emília Silva |
| 2008 | António Matinho | Fátima Campos Ferreira | – | Mário Santos | Ana Gonçalves | Maria Conceição Simões Silva | Carlos Rasoilo | Jorge Lacão | – |
| 2007 | Cory A. Booker | João de Vallera | – | José Casimiro | Maria Manuela Cardielos | Manuel Joaquim da Silva | Tony Nogueira | Luís Filipe Menezes Joseph Vas Jack Martins |
– |
| 2006 | Dr. Zachary Yamba | Pedro J. Belo | – | Tony Gomes | Linda Maria Rodrigues | Cora D' Abreu | José Manuel Gonçalves | Luís Pires Fransisco Carlos Azevedo |
– |
| 2005 | Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. | Francisco Knopfli | – | Joaquim (Jack)Casmiro | Manuela da Luz Chaplin | Fernando Araújo | Carlos Martins | José Rendeiro João Alberto Gouveia |
– |
| 2004 | Dina Matos | Dr. Pedro Catarino | – | José Rebimbas | Domitília M. dos Santos | Jorge Quaresma | João M. Soares | Jack Maia | – |
| 2003 | Eduardo Cruz | Dr. José de Almeida Cesário | – | Manuel Nata | Céu Cirne-Neves | Zeca Santos | Jorge Oliveira | Tony Nobre | – |
| 2002 | Jim McGreevey | Dr. Manuela Aguiar | – | José Martins | Beatriz Santos | Fátima Molina | Francisco L. Barra Abreu | Dina Matos Inês Simões |
– |
| 2001 | Augusto Amador | Dr. Ferro Rodrigues | – | Vitor Alves | Isabel Costa | – | José Manso | Alberto G. Santos Father Peter Uhde |
– |
| 2000 | James Treffinger | Dr. Fernando Nobre | – | Jorge Ventura | Maria João Ávila | – | Manuel Parente | Assistência Médica Internacional | – |
| 1999 | Bob Menendez | Dr. José Gama | – | António Novo | Odete Cardoso | – | Francisco Marcos | Dr. Aníbal Cavaco Silva Dr. Durão Barroso |
– |
| 1998 | António Seabra | Amália Rodrigues | – | José Luís Pereira Almeida | Glória de Melo | – | Carlos Pais | Father José Manuel R. Fernandes Dr. Maria José Rita |
– |
| 1997 | Henry Martinez | José Ramos Horta | – | Alfredo Rendeiro | Emestina Cascaes | – | Edmundo Moraes | Dr. Ramos Horta Dr. José Gama |
– |
| 1996 | Kenneth A. Gibson | Avelino Ferreira Torres | – | Domingos Cravo | Maria Amélia Costa | – | Carlos Rocha | José Martins | – |
| 1995 | Christine Todd Whitman | Luís Sousa Macedo | – | Agostinho Barbosa | Maria Fernanda A. Morais | – | – | Avelino Ferreira Torres | – |
| 1994 | – | João Antão | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1993 | – | Jim Flório | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1992 | – | Armando Fontoura | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1991 | – | Rui V. Lourenço | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1990 | – | Jorge Cardielos | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1989 | – | Sharpe James | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
References
External links
- Welcome to the Portugal Day Festival (2009)
- Union of Portuguese-American Clubs of New Jersey (UCLANJ: União de Clubes Luso-Americanos de New Jersey)
- Portugal Day Races (Portugal Day Races in Newark NJ: 5km, 1 Mile Run, Kiddy Dash)
Coordinates: 40°43′46″N 74°09′34″W / 40.72955°N 74.15943°W