(6.11) I will go to Nazaré some day.* In the meantime I can take advantage of the upcoming Day of Portugal Festival planned for Saturday and Sunday. Events kick off with a ceremony on the India Point Park overpass, at the top of those stairs, when the road along India Point Park and the river will be renamed as Portugal Parkway. Following this ceremony everyone is invited to proceed downtown Providence to the Bank on Newport City Center, where the RI Day of Portugal Festival will be underway. The food, music, and dancing takes place both Saturday and Sunday. And on Sunday, head to the State House for a parade.
The “Day of Portugal” is a holiday celebrated every year on June 10th in every corner of the Portuguese-speaking world. Officially known as “Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas” (Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities), June 10th commemorates the death of the revered Portuguese poet, Luís Vaz de Camões in 1580.
There’s a lot going here.
Ceremonial street renaming, noon, Saturday, June 10, India Point Park overpass.
Festival, 2pm to 11pm, Saturday, June 10, Providence Rink.
Festival, 1:30pm to 9pm, Sunday, June 11, Providence Rink.
Parade, 1:30pm, State House, Sunday, June 11, Smith Street.
The parade heads east on Smith Street down to Canal, and then over to Kennedy Plaza and the rink. FB page.
*100 Foot Wave is the amazing HBO documentary that helped get me through the lockdown. The surfing footage is stunning of course, and the surfers are absolutely crazy and adorable, but you will also fall in love with the town and people of Nazaré.