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Portuguese flags and dancers in native costumes will be seen on PTown streets
during our 2017 Portuguese Festival and the 70th Annual Blessing of the Fleet. |
Provincetown’s
yearly Portuguese Festival, and the 70th annual Blessing of the
Fleet, will be taking over PTown's streets and harbor from now until Sunday night.
Ryder Street, next to Town Hall, will be closed to vehicle traffic as
Portuguese Square once again colorfully comes to life.
A stage area is being assembled and
cables stretched to accommodate singers, musicians and Portuguese dancers in native costume. Over the next several days and evenings this spot will host face
painting, a puppet band, live samba music for dancing and many other events.
 |
Squid stew with a crust of bread and oyster crackers goes great with a
sandwich of grilled linguica and a bit of mustard on a fresh Portuguese roll. |
We’ll
find Portuguese food, a lobster bake and a dinner party showcasing dishes from several great local restaurants, all under a giant tent at the Bas Relief park,
with comedy and music turning up there as well.
There will be a band concert in
front of Town Hall, as well as a concert of Fado music inside. We’ll have a
parade on Commercial Street, along with the procession from St. Peter the
Apostle Church to MacMillan Pier on Sunday for the Blessing of the Fleet,
featuring marchers carrying banners honoring our local fishing vessels, both
past and present.
 |
In the 1960s,Provincwtown had a few hundred kids in school, and no shortage
of young Catholic boys to make a lengthy procession from the church to the
pier for the Blessing of the Fleet, which was also much larger in those days. |
On
Sunday a special Fishermen’s Mass at the Catholic church will lead up to a sort
of parade of boats in the harbor, where boats line up to proceed past the end
of the pier, where the priest blesses each one for safety on the water and a
bountiful fishing season. Anybody, in any kind of boat, is welcome to participate. Decorating your boat is encouraged, with recognition for the one judged to have the best
decorations. That makes the procession of the boats being blessed more fun as well.
 |
| This postcard of the Blessing of the Fleet dates to about the 1940s. |
Music, along with more Portuguese dancers, and, of course, much more Portuguese food will be found on the pier as well, and giant
puppets are likely to be found wandering the streets at some point during the
festival. All in all, more than 30 events are scheduled, with more than 20 of
them absolutely free! There are events and games tailored to kids and families,
and plenty for adults, too. And anyone with a stomach will find oodles of
dinners, parties and food courts to satisfy any appetite.
 |
| Giant puppets are likely to turn up around town. |
One of my favorite events is the Portuguese soup tasting, with the chance to try soups from many Outer Cape restaurants, and just $7 for all you'd care to eat. This event also includes entertainment by the Dory Bar Blues Band.
The Fado concert and band concerts are always excellent. I hope to get to the lobster bake as well, and the food courts at the Bas Relief, behind Town Hall, and the Tasca cafe set up at the end of the pier.
Dancers in elaborate, traditional costumes will perform at Portuguese Square, on the pier, and will appear in the parade as well. Don't miss the chance to enjoy this splendid bit of Portuguese heritage.
Get
out and enjoy this wonderful time in Provincetown, celebrating the fishermen and other Portuguese settlers who brought their beautiful culture to this little New England fishing village.
Check out the full schedule
of events for the 2017 festival and 70th Annual Blessing of the
Fleet, below. I’ll update it if I find out new info about events slated for the
Surf Club, which was damaged in the Memorial Day fire.
• Thursday, June 22, 2017
5:00pm - 10:00pm
Seamen’s
Bank Compartilhe Na Nossa Mesa or “Share Our Table”. A showcase of
Provincetown’s best restaurants held under the Seamen’s
Bank Tent at the Bas Relief near Portuguese Square. Music by the New Beach Band.
Reservations are required.
8:00pm
- 10:00pm
• Friday, June 23, 2017
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Capt.
Manny Phillips Fishing Derby for Kids at MacMillan Pier.
A Free event!
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Portuguese
Soup Tasting the Seamen’s Bank Tent
at the Bas Relief near Portuguese Square. It features soup from fine
restaurants in Provincetown, Truro & Wellfleet! Entertainment by the Dory
Bar Blues Band at the Bas Relief. All you can eat for $7. Tickets at the
door.
12:00pm - 5:00pm
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Portuguese
Writers & Poets read at the Harbor
Lounge. Harbor Lounge is located at 359 Commercial street across
from the Public Library. A free event!
2:30pm - 4:00pm
The
Great Lobster Crate Race for kids of all ages at MacMillan Pier.
A free event!
3:00pm - 6:00pm
5:00pm - 8:00pm
6:30pm - 7:30pm
8:00pm - 10:00pm
9:00pm - 1:00am
Homecoming
Get Together with the Old Jug Band at the Surf
Club. A Free event!
• Saturday, June 24, 2017
10:00am - 12:00pm
Motta
Family Kids Games & Cookout at Motta
Field. A great place for the whole family to enjoy fun and food. A free
event!
10:30am - 2:00pm
11:30am - 7:30pm
2:00pm - 3:00pm
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Portuguese
Festival Parade on Commercial Street. A highlight of the Festival with a
fantastic group of Dancers, Musicians, Floats and more will start at the Harbor Hotel and travel through
town to Franklin Street. Come early to get a good spot!
4:30pm - 5:30pm
6:30pm - 7:30pm
7:30pm - 9:30pm
An
early evening FADO concert at the Provincetown
Town Hall. Courtesy of the Provincetown Banner,
enjoy amazing performances of traditional Portuguese folk music! Contributions
at the door are appreciated! Town Hall is a handicapped accessible building.
9:00pm - 12:30am
Cap
off a great day with live SAMBA music under the stars! Join the fun and dance
the night away in Portuguese Square.
A free event!
• Sunday, June 25, 2017
10:30am - 11:30am
11:30am - 12:30pm
Portuguese
Dancers perform authentic routines wearing fabulous costumes in Lopes Square while you wait for the
Procession. A free event!
12:00pm - 1:00pm
After
Mass at St. Peter the Apostle
Church a Procession leaves as a group for the short walk to MacMillan Pier
for the 70th annual Blessing of the Fleet. They are bearing banners that honor
the fishing fleet past & present.
12:00pm - 4:00pm
TASCA
Portuguese Cafe on MacMillan Pier.
Sample the taste of Portugal with a host of delicacies including a Beer &
Wine cash bar!
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Follow
up the Blessing with Portuguese Music and Dancers! They are performing out on MacMillan Pier.
A free event!
1:00pm
70th
Blessing Of The Fleet. Honoring a tradition in Provincetown, boats decked out
in their finest parade before Bishop Edgar Da Cunha S.D.V. to receive their
blessing. The fleet will be judged for their decorations too. A free event!
4:00pm - 5:00pm
4:00pm - 7:00pm
Get
Together and celebrate the last day of the Festival at the Surf Club at the foot of MacMillan Pier.
Ed Sheridan and friends will be performing live. A free event!
