Dia de Portugal (Portugal Day) 2004

Newark's Dia de Portugal Festival activities

• May 26, 8 p.m.: MetroStars vs. Boavista F.C. at Williams Field, Elizabeth
• May 29, 12 p.m.: Portuguese flag raising ceremony at Newark City Hall
• May 29, 8 p.m.: Classical Music Concert at NJ Performing Arts Center
• May 30, 5 p.m.: Folklore Festival, Passaic Riverfront at Raymond Boulevard
• May 31, 4 p.m.: Old Timers Soccer Match, Benfica vs. Sporting at Williams Field, Elizabeth
• June 4, 8 p.m. Rock concert with "Os Anos" at Ritz Theater in Elizabeth
• June 5, 3-5 p.m.: Opening of Luso-Americano Art Exhibition at Newark Public Library
• June 6, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.: Portugal Day celebrations in Kearny, Elizabeth and Union
• June 7-10, 6-8 p.m.: Youth Soccer Friendship Cup at Riverbank Park, Independence Park and Ironbound Stadium, Newark
• June 10, 4-6 p.m.: Portugal Day Ceremony at Drumthwacket, the Governor's Mansion, Princeton
• June 10, 7:30 p.m.: Thanksgiving Mass at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark
• June 10-13, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.: Illumination of the Empire State Building in the colors of the Portuguese Flag
• June 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Portuguese drum band "Ze Pereira's Voluntarios de Baiao" performs on Ferry Street
• June 11, 7:30 p.m.: Night of Friendship dinner honoring outstanding members of Luso-American community; at Mediterranean Manor, Newark
• June 12, noon: Street festival begins and Ferry Street becomes Portugal Avenue
• June 12, 1 p.m.: Brazilian Community Tribute Performance at Peter Francisco Park, Ferry Street, Newark
• June 12, 7:30 p.m.: Folklore groups and music bands perform along Portugal Avenue
• June 12, 7:30 p.m.: Portuguese music performance at the Mary Burch Theater, Essex County College, Newark
• June 12, 11:30 p.m.: Fireworks Spectacular at Riverbank Park on the Passaic River
• June 13, 8 a.m.: Portugal Day Road Race
• June 13, noon: Special Guests Reception for parade grand marshal and honorary grand marshal at Portuguese Sports Club, Newark
• June 13, 2:30 p.m.: Official Portugal Day Parade Kickoff Ceremonies at parade review stand, Ferry Street, Newark
• June 13, 3-5:30 p.m.: Portugal Day Parade, Ferry Street, Newark
• June 13, 3:30-6:30 p.m.: Live satellite broadcast of "Portugal in the Heart" variety show via RTP International. During the broadcast, popular Portuguese artists will perform at Peter Francisco Park, Newark.
• June 13, 5:30-10 p.m.: Street festival continues, Ferry Street, Newark
• June 13, 10 p.m.: Fireworks over the Passaic River at Riverbank Park, Newark.

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Join the Celebration in Newark!

The 25th Annual Portugal Day Festival is actually a two-week jubilee of sports, music, art, food and culture that organizers say is the largest Portuguese fest of its kind in the world. Attendance this year is expected to top one million people for all events combined!

The highlight of the celebration takes place on the weekend of June 12-13. At noon on the 12th, Ferry Street, which cuts through the heart of Newark's heavily Portuguese Ironbound section, is transformed into Portugal Avenue for a gala street festival featuring bands performing Portuguese and Brazilian music, folklore groups, food and vendors. The day will culminate in a fireworks display over the Passaic River at Riverbank Park.

On Sunday, June 13, Newark will come alive with a grand parade featuring 30,000 marchers representing New Jersey's Portuguese-American social, cultural and professional associations - an event that will be broadcast live back to Portugal via satellite. The parade's Grand Marshall will be Dr. Pedro Catarino, Portugal's ambassador to the United States, while the Honorary Grand Marshal will be Newark's own Dina Matos McGreevey, first lady of the state of New Jersey. Afterward, the street festival will continue until 10 p.m., when another round of fireworks closes out the festivities.

The 2004 Portugal Day Festival kicks off, literally, with a soccer match on Wednesday, May 26 at 8 p.m. as the Major League Soccer MetroStars take on Boavista F.C., one of Portugal's top clubs and a semifinalist in last year's UEFA Cup. The match, held at Williams Field in Elizabeth, is one of three "futebol" events scheduled during the fest. A May 31 old-timers match between alumni of Lisbon's rival clubs, Benfica and Sporting (4 p.m., Williams Field, Elizabeth), benefited charities fighting leukemia. Youth teams will compete in the Friendship Cup Tournament at Newark's Riverbank Park, Independence Park and Ironbound Stadium from June 7-10 (6-8 p.m. nightly). Sports lovers of a different stripe will enjoy the 5K and 1-mile road races scheduled for June 13.

Music and performance will be found in abundance during the Portugal Day Festival. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center was the venue for a May 29th classical music concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of democracy in Portugal. Internationally renowned Portuguese soprano Elizabeth Matos will make her U.S. debut at the event. If rock music is more to your taste, the Portuguese band "Os Anjos" will play a concert at the Ritz Theater in Elizabeth on June 4. The Portuguese drum band, "Zes Pereira's Voluntarios de Baiao" will entertain along Ferry Street on June 11, and a June 12 Artist's Night at Essex County College's Mary Burch Theater will feature classical and contemporary Portuguese artists.

Leading members of the Portuguese-American community will be honored at Night of Friendship dinner scheduled for June 11 at the Mediterranean Manor in Newark. Honorees at the gala are Jose Reimburse, longtime scoutmaster and community leader; Domitilia dos Santos, a distinguished financial professional; John Soares, head of the area's largest community youth sports organization; and Jorge Quaresma, a longtime singer of fado a popular music form unique to Portugal.

For more information on the Portugal Day Festival, please contact the Bernardino Coutinho Foundation, 973-344-0123.

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