Herman Melville Family Day celebrates the 194th birthday of the famed author of “Moby-Dick” at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on Saturday, July 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with free children’s activities indoors and out, and it ends as all birthdays should – with cake.

The annual celebration takes place in the Jacobs Family Gallery and on the museum plaza, with programs throughout the museum galleries. It features special guests, art, music, and story reading for children 12 years and younger. Regular admission applies to museum galleries.

Meet children’s book illustrator Andrew Glass. A New York City author and illustrator of many books for children, Andrew’s singular, distinct style has graced the pages of books of colorful historical and folkloric figures from Jesse James to Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane to Billy the Kid. Read along with Andrew from his latest book, “Moby Dick: Chasing the Great White Whale.” Books will be available for sale and signing.

Children’s arts and crafts activities scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. include creating soap scrimshaw, little logbooks, paper sailors’ valentines, whale hats, bookmarks and whale magnets.

Kids can make their own floatable toy model of Captain Ahab’s ship, Pequod. Wading pools on the plaza will allow young shipwrights to test their vessels’ seaworthiness before they take them home.

Kids can also test their aim in the harpoon throwing contest; hit the target and win a prize. Take your photo in our authentic Beetle whaleboat on the museum plaza. At the “touch table” examine sperm whale teeth, baleen and scrimshaw.

At 1:30 p.m. visitors of all ages are invited to join in a “Happy Birthday” sing-along and enjoy a slice of birthday cake.

Special activities include: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Moby-Dick tour; 10:30 to 11:00 – Read along with Andrew Glass and his new book, “Moby Dick: Chasing the Great White Whale”; 11:30 to noon – Learn sea chanteys while raising and lowering the jib sails on the Lagoda; 12:00 to 1:00 – Go below deck on the Lagoda; 12:30-1:30 – All aboard the Lagoda! Kids’ program; 1:00-1:30 – Read along with Andrew Glass; 1:30 – “Happy Birthday” sing-along and birthday cake. Regular admission rates apply to museum galleries, including the Moby-Dick tour Lagoda programs.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Drawings to win family memberships will be held throughout the day. The Museum Store will also hold a summer tent sale.

Herman Melville Family Day is sponsored in part by the Grimshaw Gudewicz Charitable Foundation and the Helen E. Ellis Charitable Fund.

With more the 750,000 items in its collection, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is the world’s most comprehensive museum devoted to the global story of whales, whaling, and the history of New Bedford and the region. Cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum campus is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill, encompassing a city block in the heart of New Bedford’s historic downtown. The museum’s 20 galleries of art and science exhibits are open daily and wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit the Whaling Museum online at www.whalingmuseum.org.

Authors of Spinner Publications’ new book, A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1 (1602-1925), will be on hand to sign books at “Spinner Loves New Bedford” book signing party at Gallery X, 169 William Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts on Saturday, August 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. The five authors, Joseph D. Thomas, Alfred H. Saulniers, Natalie A. White, Marsha L. McCabe and Jay Avila, will available throughout the evening to sign limited edition cloth covered signed and numbered books as well as sturdy paperback books. The public is invited free.

Guests will enjoy light refreshments and entertainment at the festive “Spinner Loves New Bedford” book signing party The event coincides with Gallery X’s Swain School of Design Alumni Show.

A film, “New Bedford Through the Years,” including never- before- seen vintage footage of New Bedford will also be shown.

For more information, contact Spinner Publications at (508) 994-4564, visit www.spinnerpub.com or look up Spinner Publications on Facebook.

The City of New Bedford Parks Recreation & Beaches Department and the New Bedford YMCA have joined forces to offer the NFL FLAG football program starting September 2013. Open registration day will be held on Saturday, July 20th at the Buttonwood Senior Center at 1 Oneida St. from 9am-11am. Ongoing registration may be completed at the front desk of the New Bedford YMCA.

The league consists of two divisions: Ages 6-8 and Ages 9-12. The season will begin on September 14th and run on Saturdays until the first week in November. The cost for members of the YMCA or members of the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center is $35 and non-members $45. All participants will receive a team shirt.

For more information please call the Administrative Offices of Parks, Recreation and Beaches at (508) 961-3015 or email infoprb@newbedford-ma.gov.

The weekend outlook, will be a mixed bag. One thing we know for sure: it will be HOT. Friday and Saturday will be in the 90s and Sunday “cooling” down to the 80s. Currently there is a 60% chance of Thundershowers on Saturday that could put a damper – pardon the pun – on some activities. These showers, if they come, are expected to arrive in the evening. For more info on these events, the titles have been hyperlinked.

Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar  where you can find hundreds of local area events each month. The event calendar is FREE, so if you are a local business, and not taking advantage of FREE publicity, shame on you! Are you a local business and want to sponsor this high traffic, weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details. Have an event to add? Check out our tutorial. For more info, you can click on each title. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

Friday, July 19th

58th Annual Westport Fair: Day 2
Face painting, tractor races, Rosie’s Racing Pigs, great food, music, horseshoes, and more! The first Westport Fair was held at Westport High School in 1955. This will be Westport’s 58th Fair. This year’s fair will be held July 17-21. Admission is $4 on July 18 & 19, and $5 on July 20, 21, and 22. Children under 12 are free. The money raised by the fair is used to operate the fair, reinvest in the fairgrounds, student scholarships, and other donations to the town. The fair is a non-profit organization. Free parking is available on the North side of the fair. Please respect out neighbors and refrain from parking on Pine Hill Road.

FREE Fun Friday: FREE Admission to Buttonwood Park Zoo (9:00 am-5:00 pm) 
Enjoy free admission to Buttonwood Zoo, thanks to the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Friday program. The Zoo will be open regular hours with last entry at 4:15 p.m. Train and Carousel rides will be available for standard ticket prices.

FREE Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series: ‘Life By Lobster’ (7:00 pm-9:00 pm) 
The Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series continues on Friday, July 19 with Life by Lobster. Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the Working Waterfront Festival. Films about the working waterfront are screened on the third Friday of each month beginning at 7:00 PM in the theater of the Corson Maritime Learning Center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. All programs are open to the public and presented free of charge.

Saturday, July 20th

58th Annual Westport Fair: Day 3
Face painting, tractor races, Rosie’s Racing Pigs, great food, music, horseshoes, and more! The first Westport Fair was held at Westport High School in 1955. This will be Westport’s 58th Fair. This year’s fair will be held July 17-21. Admission is $4 on July 18 & 19, and $5 on July 20, 21, and 22. Children under 12 are free. The money raised by the fair is used to operate the fair, reinvest in the fairgrounds, student scholarships, and other donations to the town. The fair is a non-profit organization. Free parking is available on the North side of the fair. Please respect out neighbors and refrain from parking on Pine Hill Road.

SLAMDiabetes Wiffle Ball Tournament (9am – 8pm)
The 2nd Annual New Bedford Bay Sox Foundation SLAMDiabetes Wiffle ball event for Type 1 Diabetes is tomorrow from 9am – 8pm at Paul Walsh Field at New Bedford High School. The games will be played on on three portable Wiffle ball fields. 14 teams play for the Bay Sox Cup. A Bay Sox baseball game will be at 6:30pm. Details: http://www.slamdiabetes.com/wiffle-ball-tournaments/tournaments/slamdiabetes-bay-sox-classic-2013/

Penikese Island Adventure (Woods Hole, MA) (9:00 am-8:00 pm)
Join the Buzzards Bay Coalition on one of two full-day excursions to explore Penikese Island, a remote and beautiful island in the middle of Buzzards Bay. Planned activities include an oyster farming demonstration, a tour of Penikese Island School, and coastal exploration activities with Coalition education staff. The cost is $60 for Buzzards Bay Coalition members, $75 for the general public, and $40 for children. We will meet at the Buzzards Bay Discovery Center (21 Luscombe Avenue, Woods Hole). Registration is required. For more information or to RSVP, contact Alicia Pimental at 508-999-6363 x226 or pimental@savebuzzardsbay.org.

Space Saturday (10:00-4:00 pm)
The event will run from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm, and will feature Dick Methia, a national finalist in the NASA Teacher in Space project and former New Bedford High School English teacher. At 3:00 pm, Methia will give a fascinating 45-minute presentation on living and working in space. Opening the event at 10:00 am, Lisa Pratt, science teacher at Roosevelt Middle School and NASA space camp alum will present an introduction to space camp and lead soda bottle rocket launches. This should be a blast, pun intended!

Schwartz Center for Children 2013 Summer Carnival (Dartmouth, MA) (11:00-4:00 pm)
The Schwartz Center’s Family Involvement Committee is once again sponsoring the annual Summer Carnival, scheduled for Saturday, July 20th from 11:00AM to 4:00PM (rain date 7/21).

Carnival fun is fully accessible to children of all abilities. Admission is FREE for Schwartz Center students, $4 for non-student children under 12-years, and $6 for adults. A Family Pack is also available for $15 (2 adults and 2+ children). The fair is open to the public and will feature a variety of games, food, and entertainment, including Steve Arsenault Kenpo Karate demonstration at 12:00pm, Toe Jam Puppet Band at 1:15pm, and Voices in Time at 2:00pm. Families throughout the community are welcome to attend.

14th Annual 3rd EyE Open
3rd EyE Youth Empowerment, Inc. is a non-profit organization that has had a significant impact on hundreds of youth, their families, and the overall community since 1998. Festivities Include: live performances, children’s activities, open dance cypher, live graffiti exhibitions, Tae Kwon Do demonstrations, dance school demonstrations and a 3 on 3 basketball tournament. Full details: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/407101369399015/.

Bay Sox vs. Mystic Schooners (6:30 pm – 9:30 pm)
Head to Paul Walsh Field and cheer on your New Bedford Bay Sox as they challenge the Mystic Schooners! Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children 16 years and younger. Nothing beats the sights, smells, and sounds of a live baseball game!

Sunday, July 21st

Acoustic Sunrise – Morning Glory Cafe (9:30 am – 12:30 pm) In what is perhaps the most unique breakfast next to Leggs ‘n Eggs, you can enjoy breakfast and live music every Sunday at Morning Glory Café, in the South End. Amanda Rae will serenade you from 9:30-12:30 while you enjoy the best breakfast in town!

58th Annual Westport Fair: Day 4
Face painting, tractor races, Rosie’s Racing Pigs, great food, music, horseshoes, and more! The first Westport Fair was held at Westport High School in 1955. This will be Westport’s 58th Fair. This year’s fair will be held July 17-21. Admission is $4 on July 18 & 19, and $5 on July 20, 21, and 22. Children under 12 are free. The money raised by the fair is used to operate the fair, reinvest in the fairgrounds, student scholarships, and other donations to the town. The fair is a non-profit organization. Free parking is available on the North side of the fair. Please respect out neighbors and refrain from parking on Pine Hill Road.

8th Annual Fishermen’s Tribute Fund 5k Road Race/Walk (9:00 am – 12:00 pm)
Do you have family or friends in the fishing industry? The Fishermen’s Tribute Fund is hosting a 5k Road Race to raise money to erect a monument for those lost at sea. It’s a great way to get some exercise and help a LOCAL cause!

Great Outdoors Day (12:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
How often do you and your kids get outdoors? New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will collaborate with partners and friends to celebrate being outdoors at Great Outdoors Day on Sunday, July 21. This free event takes place at Buttonwood Park from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM. In addition to New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, other exhibitors will include New Bedford Parks, Recreation and Beaches, Buzzards Bay Coalition, New Bedford Community Rowing, Trustees of Reservations, and New Bedford Art Museum. Great Outdoors Day will take place adjacent to the playground. Free parking is available nearby.

Men from the South Coast who like to cook in their spare time or as their profession are welcome to volunteer. Want to know more? or volunteer? Call Annie @ 508*996*3343 EXT 38 or email apatacao@thewomenscentersc.com. You can also check out The Women’s Center website at www.thewomenscentersc.com.

Want to sponsor this weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details. 

The community tradition of 3rd EyE Youth Empowerment is back for it’s 14th year and will take place this Saturday, July 20, 2013 at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, MA from 12pm until 8pm.

This cultural festival includes eight hours of performances from regional artists and those as far as Atlanta, GA. Youth who are also involved in 3rd EyE’s arts-based programs will also be featured, including the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP), a partnership with the Greater New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park. There will be nearly 200 feet of live graffiti mural painting by artists from near and far. Breakers, Poppers and All Style dancers will have an open session to showcase their talents and keep the audience in awe with dynamic and intense moves. Local dance schools will entertain as well as a Tae Kwon Do demonstration by East Coast Tae Kwon Do. Local vendors and community organizations will be spread out offering an array of information, goods and food. Another piece of the Open is the 3-on-3 basketball tournament plus dunk and 3-point contest.

This is a special year for the organization and the Open is not just any other event but a chance to reach out and let the community know the year-round efforts and impact of the
organization. The planning of the open is a lengthy process that engages many youth in a transformational process of learning and leading. Working along side positive adult role models and benefiting from local leaders, business owners and artists who came in to facilitate trainings and skill-building exercises helped to bring this culminating event together. It takes an incredible amount of resources, partners and service hours, a village, to produce an event of this scale. One of the youth leaders, Kalie Brum, stated, “the 3rd EyE Open is a time for the community to come together, 3rd EyE is not just a one-day thing, it goes on 364 other days of the year. Many others and myself were a part of a year-long process to make this happen. 3rd EyE has a lot to offer that many can benefit from. Like I said in one of the poems in my book, without unity, there is no such thing as community.” Kalie just published her own book entitled, “This is my story; those were my tears” to help support children affected by child abuse.

Please come out and support this very essential organization that has been engaging and empowering youth to transform their community since 1998. You can make a contribution by visiting the website, www.3rdeyeunlimited.com or paying a visit to their Community Arts & Drop-In Center on 28 Union Street downtown New Bedford. Or get involved, become a volunteer. Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/3rdEyEInc and Twitter @3rdEyEUnlimited or call 508-910-2260.

The Schwartz Center’s Family Involvement Committee is once again sponsoring the annual Summer Carnival, scheduled for Saturday, July 20th from 11:00AM to 4:00PM (rain date 7/21).

Carnival fun is fully accessible to children of all abilities. Admission is FREE for Schwartz Center students, $4 for non-student children under 12-years, and $6 for adults. A Family Pack is also available for $15 (2 adults and 2+ children). The fair is open to the public and will feature a variety of games, food, and entertainment, including Steve Arsenault Kenpo Karate demonstration at 12:00pm, Toe Jam Puppet Band at 1:15pm, and Voices in Time at 2:00pm. Families throughout the community are welcome to attend.

Summer Carnival will take place on the grounds of the Schwartz Center, located at One Posa Place, Dartmouth, MA 02747. Parking will be available at Sears located at the Dartmouth Mall on Route 6 – a shuttle bus will provide transportation to and from the center as needed. Please RSVP to 508-996-3391.

The Schwartz Center for Children is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides diagnostic, therapeutic, educational, and social services to children and young adults with special medical and developmental needs. The Schwartz Center is located at One Posa Place, Dartmouth, MA 02747. For more information about the center, please visit www.schwartzcenter.org

How often do you and your kids get outdoors? New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will collaborate with partners and friends to celebrate being outdoors at Great Outdoors Day on Sunday, July 21. This free event takes place at Buttonwood Park from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM. In addition to New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, other exhibitors will include New Bedford Parks, Recreation and Beaches, Buzzards Bay Coalition, New Bedford Community Rowing, Trustees of Reservations, and New Bedford Art Museum. Great Outdoors Day will take place adjacent to the playground. Free parking is available nearby.

Learn how to row on a rowing machine, explore urban birds, bugs, and play 19th century outdoor games with Ruth and Abby, the 1850s ladies. Explore hands-on crafts with New Bedford Art Museum’s iconic purple artMOBILE, or join a family nature scavenger hunt using binoculars, magnifying glasses and more!

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States. The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open seven days a week, from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-4 PM. The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge. For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095, go to www.nps.gov, or visit the park’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP.

Southcoast™ Health System and FUN 107 today announced plans for Sharon’s Walk, the fourth annual memorial walk and family-friendly event to honor Sharon and Elaine Fogaren. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care’s Patient Caregiver Assistance Fund and the Southcoast Breast Center.

The fourth annual “Sharon’s Walk” will be held on Sunday, September 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fort Taber, 1000 Rodney French Boulevard in New Bedford. The 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) walk will take place around Fort Taber. Registration and check-in begins at 10 a.m. with the event kicking-off at 11 a.m. Participants are welcome to join the walk at any time during the event. The family friendly event includes entertainment, refreshments, raffles and more. Free health screenings will also be provided by the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care and the Southcoast Health Van.

“Holding this annual walk to benefit Southcoast’s cancer patients and Breast Center supports Sharon’s wishes to improve access to cancer care locally and raise breast cancer awareness in memory of her mother, Elaine,” said J.R. Reitz, who co-hosted the “J.R. & Sharon” show for more than 10 years with Sharon Fogaren. “We hope all of our friends and listeners will join us again this year for the fourth annual ‘Sharon’s Walk’ to benefit this great cause and to remember our friend Sharon and her mother, Elaine.”

Sharon Fogaren, the long time co-host of the “J.R. & Sharon” morning radio show on FUN 107, passed away after a brief illness in 2009 at the young age of 43. Sharon’s mother, Elaine, passed away in 2004 after a battle with breast cancer. It was Sharon’s dream to host a walk to honor her mother and to help raise awareness about breast cancer and local cancer care.

Therese M. Mulvey, MD, Physician-in-Chief & Medical Oncologist at the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care, said that Sharon’s Walk creates an energy that will carry on for generations.

“It is powerful when a community joins together in memory of a beloved member for a cause as important as its local cancer program,” Dr. Mulvey said. “The care provided at Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care is available to your family, friends and neighbors right here in your own communities. Our devoted team of physicians, oncology nurses, social workers and nutrition experts are available to each patient through all aspects of their care — from the initial cancer diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. Our goal is to provide our community with the highest level of expertise in a supportive and caring environment that they may not otherwise have access to. We are grateful for the ongoing support and hope everyone can join us again this year for another successful walk. ”

Registration is now open!
Individuals and teams can now pre-register for the walk online at www.southcoast.org/sharonswalk/ or at www.FUN107.com through September 26.

The pre-registration fee is $20 per person. All pre-registered participants will receive a Sharon’s Walk memorial T-shirt. The day-of registration fee is $25 per person, $10 for children under 12, and free for children in strollers.

Registration forms can be downloaded from either website or picked up at any of the following locations:

• FUN 107/WBSM studios, 22 Sconticut Neck Rd. in Fairhaven.
• The three Southcoast hospitals’ information desks:

o Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. in Fall River.
o St. Luke’s Hospital, 101 Page St. in New Bedford.
o Tobey Hospital, 43 High St. in Wareham.

• Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care, Mitchell Building, 363 Highland Ave. in Fall River.
• Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care, 206 Mill Road in Fairhaven.

Pre-registration forms and payment should be returned by mail to Southcoast Health System, Attn: External Affairs/Philanthropy, 101 Page Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. Registrations must be received no later than September 26.

Team prizes will be awarded on the day of the event for the team that raises the most money, the best dressed team, the most creative team name, and the team with the most walkers. In order to be eligible for team prizes, the team must be pre-registered by September 26.

Sponsorships
To sponsor an individual walker or a team or to make a general donation please visit
www.southcoast.org/sharonswalk/.

For more information please contact Amy Winn by email at winna@southcoast.org or by phone at 508-973-5358.

Sharon Fogaren (1965 – 2009)
A native of New Bedford, Sharon Fogaren graduated with honors from Bridgewater State College with a degree in Speech Communication and a concentration in radio and television production.

Her broadcasting career began at WPEP-AM in Taunton. She worked in radio in Boston, Providence, R.I., and Orlando, Fla.

Fogaren joined FUN 107 in 1995. She took some time to work as a news anchor at ABC-TV (Channel 6) in Providence, R.I., before returning in 2001 to reunite with J.R. Reitz to co-host the top-rated FM morning show in Southeastern Massachusetts. She also anchored and produced Southcoast Hospitals’ “Your Health Matters” television series, which aired throughout Bristol County Massachusetts in the late 1990s.

After the passing of her mother in 2004, Fogaren became an advocate for breast cancer awareness and hospice care and volunteered for Southcoast VNA, formerly known as Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Infusion in Fairhaven.

In August 2009, Fogaren fell ill, passing away two weeks later. She had planned to launch a walk in her mother, Elaine Fogaren’s, memory during October, breast cancer awareness month.

The 2013 Thursdays in the Park Concert Series continues its weekly summer series with a performance of songs and stories from the Underground Railroad featuring the Connecticut based ensemble Nzinga’s Daughters. The free concert takes place Thursday, July 18th from 6:30-7:15 in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park garden (33 William Street). In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be moved indoors to the National Park Theater.

Nzinga’s Daughters is a five woman ensemble whose members share their gift of song and story to educate the public about the history and cultural achievements of Africa and the African Diaspora. The Daughters are best know for their “Underground Railroad” performance which invites the audience to experience the creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance employed by African American slaves in their efforts to shepherd runaway slaves to safety. Because slaves were prohibited from learning to read or write, they developed an elaborate system of communication which included embedding coded messages into the verses of Negro spirituals. Nzinga’s Daughters perform for schools, universities, senior centers, festivals, community events and a variety of cultural venues from New England to Ghana West Africa.

The New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a.k.a. the Portuguese Feast, a.k.a. Madeira 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.

Between my own experience with the feast, some careful research and some very helpful guidance from Ed Camara, the Director of Media and Public Relations for Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento I have come up with an overview of the feast which has become a major attraction for visitors from all over who come to celebrate the Portuguese culture through food, drink and entertainment.

For this year’s 2013 feast, thousands of attendees are being anticipated. If you are considering being one of them, here are some things you should know about the feast:

1. Time and Location

If you have never been to the feast it naturally makes sense to let you know where to go and when to be there. The feast is a four day event, officially kicking off at 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 1st. The grounds close at midnight each night.

On Friday the grounds re-open from 6 PM to 11:45 PM. The weekend hours start a bit earlier with Saturday festivities beginning at 10 AM for the 5k road race followed by Kid’s Day afternoon. The last day of the feast is Sunday which starts off at noon and will feature a parade at 2:00 PM. For more information on when and where events will be taking place, go to the Portuguese Feast Entertainment Schedule.

Most of the events take place at Madeira Field, which is permanent location in New Bedford’s north end, which comes to life one weekend a year for the festivities. The address of Madeira Field is 50 Madeira Avenue, New Bedford, MA. Parking can be a bit tricky, you may have to plan to search a bit to find a spot and walk a few blocks, or pay to park in a nearby lot.

2. Costs

The festival allows free admission and free entertainment thanks to the hard work of the 53 committee members who comprise the 2013 Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Committee. While admission is free there are also many vendors at the grounds selling everything from handmade Madeiran souvenirs to cigars.

Tickets may also be purchased to buy authentic Portuguese cuisine or, if you’re over 21, an impressive selection of alcoholic beverages. Tickets cost a dollar each and can be purchased at ten machines located throughout the grounds by placing a five, ten or twenty dollar bill inside. Tickets are non-refundable. There are also stands with employees who sell the tickets.

Prices of food are kept reasonable, and there is a great deal of variety to choose from. To give you a general idea of the prices of items at the feast, a full meal is 12 tickets (which equates to 12 dollars), most sandwiches are around four tickets, and a soda or a water goes for one ticket. Still a phenomenal deal after all these years.

3. Food

One of the greatest features of the feast is the delicious Portuguese fare. There are many food stands located throughout Madeira Field that serve your favorites from the simple delights of linguica and cacoila sandwiches to full on Portuguese cuisine plates of chicken, beef, goat or tuna with potatoes, rice and vegetables.

Another major culinary draw is the Carne de Espeto, a massive, 40 foot barbecue pit where beef sirloin cubes can be cooked over an open flame on massive skewers. This is hard to miss since the aroma is absolutely mouth watering. Visitors are able to buy the meat for eight tickets a pound and a delicious aromatic salt is provided to cook with.

Visitors are then able to roast their own dinner over the gas-fired lava rock grill. Mr. Camara, (who has been a part of the organization since 1982) advised me that if someone tells you to pour Madeira wine on the meat it is not advisable (it does not help the flavor and causes the meat to burn faster!)

In case you are not accustomed to the flavorful cooking style of Portuguese cuisine, go to the Food & Drink page of the Portuguese Feast website for definitions of some of the food you might expect to see: http://portuguesefeast.com/page/food-drink.

4. Drink

One of the draws of the feast is the consumption of Madeira wine, which is a central part of the festivities as it is part of a long tradition. Madeira wine is a sweet, fortified red wine. Genuine Madeira wine is made on the island of Madeira, and exportation of actual barrels are restricted due to regulations. However, thanks to a special agreement made between feast officials and the President of Madeira, casks are able to be delivered to New Bedford and served for the weekend, making this a very rare treat for those who attend.

For those who don’t find the taste of Madeira wine suits their pallet, there are a great variety of additional options including a full liquor bar for mix drinks. Alcohol stands also serve sangria and white wine and Budweiser beer is on tap.

If you wish to partake in the consumption of alcoholic beverages, you will need to have your ID scanned when you enter the feast grounds in order to receive a wristband that proves you are legally old enough to be served.

5. Entertainment

There is a great deal of quality free entertainment at the feast each year from Portuguese and American cultures. There are three stages throughout Madeira field, and each host a variety of performance types throughout the weekend. In addition, the Museum of Madeiran Heritage will be featuring musical performances each night of the feast. These performances will be featuring fado music, a Portuguese genre of music that can be traced back to the 1820s but is believed to be even older than that.

One of the cultural acts that you may see take the stage at Madeira field is Groupo Folclorico Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento. This group of dancers present traditional dancing performances to authentic Madeiran music and in traditional clothing. These performances are always very spirited and interesting to see.

There will be many bands on the smaller stages during the feast, but the largest stage is reserved for a special performance at 10:00 each night. Thursday night the band Everclear will take the stage. Everclear was a very popular rock band in the ‘90s with hits like “I Will Buy You a New Life”, “Father of Mine”, “Wonderful”, and “Santa Monica”.

Friday night will feature Eratoxia, a Boston-based American/Portuguese rock band. On Saturday The Field Effect will be playing their infectious indie music for the crowds. Scarab will be taking the spotlight slot on Sunday, finishing up the weekend with their Journey tribute music.

6. Families

Since Madeira feast involves alcohol consumption, some readers may be wondering if it is a family appropriate event. You will be glad to know that family values are integral to the foundation of the feast. While it is probably not advisable to bring young children later in the night due to large crowds and loud music, it should be mentioned that there are many features of the feast that children will love. Also, the feast takes great measures to prohibit underage drinking. All who wish to consume alcoholic beverages are required to undergo a license verification process in order to receive a specially printed wristband.

A cool part of the feast is that it features carnival rides and games all weekend. Saturday is probably the best day for families with young children thanks to Kids Day Afternoon which follows the 13th annual 5k road race. Kids day kicks off at noon and involves family friendly music, a magic show and distinguished performer Jody Scaise, the “motion man”.

For senior citizens in the community, there is “Senior Citizen Afternoon” which also takes place on Saturday from noon to 4 pm. During this time a shuttle is is being offered (courtesy of the City of New Beford) from the parking lot of Lincoln Elementary on Saturday so that seniors can attend the event without having to worry about parking. On this day they are also offered a special deal of half price meals for only 6 dollars instead of 12 (eat in only). Special entertainment is featured as well.

7. History

The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament gains its roots from the island of Madeira which is located 390 miles off the coast of Morocco. Traditionally, each Roman Catholic parish in Madeira would observe a festival to celebrate their patron saint. A committee of four men called festeiros would be responsible for preparing the village for the celebration by decorating the streets, contracting entertainment (often in the form of a brass band and fireworks) and holding a ceremonial meal after mass on Sunday.

There are many versions of the tale of why the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament was first begun in New Bedford 97 years ago. What is certain however, is that the feast was initiated as a means of preserving basic values of the Madeiran culture. Of course, since it was first begun the feast has changed in many ways to accommodate thousands of eager participants and modern elements of celebration.

While there have been many changes in the feast, many aspects still remain central to the celebration. The tradition of Madeira wine is a very old one, dating back to the 15th Century when the Malvasia vine was planted on the island of Madeira to see it would yield an alternative supply of wine for England. When growth was successful Madeira wine quickly took to the market, but did not become a major export until many years later. It wasn’t until the 16th Century that the flavor we know of today was created when they discovered that the flavor of the wine was actually improved by being repeatedly heated up. Follow the link for more information on the history of Madeira wine (http://portuguesefeast.com/page/madeira-wine-history).

The religious aspect of the feast also remains a part of proceedings. As it did in 1915, the feast still takes place near Our Lady of Immaculate Conception which is located on the corner of Earle and Madeira Street in New Bedford. The Portuguese feast pays homage to its religious traditions by beginning the weekend festivities with a procession to the church where Father Daniel O. Reis gives a Benediction to the Blessed Sacrament. Throughout the weekend the church also hosts a wonderful musical series of organ music and vocalists. The details of this schedule are still being finalized.

8. Madeira Field

The grounds on which the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament takes place are quite expansive and easy to lose people in. Be sure you have a plan for finding lost party members whether it be by cell phone or a designated area to meet up at.

When entering the feast you will need to get in line for a wristband if you wish to purchase alcoholic beverages. One of the most prominent features you will notice upon entering the festival grounds is the Santana House. The house is designed after the colorful architectural styles of the homes in the village Santana, Madeira and is where the Madeira wine is served from.

Across from the Santana House is Stage One, which is massive and where the main attractions will be hosted throughout the weekend. There are also two other smaller stages, one that is inside the gates and the other which is outside and amongst the souvenir vendors. You will also see many food and drink stands throughout the grounds, and towards the back you will find the barbecue pits for Carne de Espeto (or just follow your nose).