Malasadas, carne de espeto and Madeira wine, oh my!

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

Here is an overview of the 108th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament which has become a major attraction for visitors from all over who come to celebrate the Portuguese culture through food, drink, and entertainment.

1. Location & Schedule of Events

The “feast” is a four-day event, officially kicking off at 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 1st with the assembly of the Festeiros (Feast Committee Members) at the intersection of Earle Street and Acushnet Avenue.

Led by the Feast President, the Festeiros march in a special procession down Earle Street to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church which is located at the corner of Earle Street and Madeira Avenue. At the church, Father Daniel O. Reis celebrates a special Benediction to the Blessed Sacrament.

Each evening the feast grounds will close at 11:45pm. On Friday, the grounds will open up at Friday – 5:00pm, but on Saturday and Sunday they will open up at 12:00pm.

The Carnival will open all four days of the Feast. Cushing Amusements is a family owned and operated traveling carnival. You can visit their Facebook Page to see past events and a glimpse at some of their entertainment and rides.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.Walgreen’s Family Fun Day is from 12-4:00pm on Saturday. Children under 12 eat for “free”; a free burger, hot dog, French fries and a soda. A perfect weekend day for families to bring along the little ones and not worry about having to pay high prices. A ton of fun events and activities are planned including face painting, a traveling science museum, music by the Toe Jam Puppet Band, carnival rides, a free book, flash mob and routine by Dance Xtreme, and more. This year there are some new rides!

In addition, from 12-4:00 PM, the Main Pavilion welcomes all seniors to enjoy a choice-of-menu dinner at a 50% discount! Menu choices include roast beef, chicken, fish, cacoila, and the somewhat more exotic roast goat or rabbit, traditional Portuguese favorites. The buffet is arranged in a way that visitors are allowed to sample more than one entree with their ‘Caldo Verde’ (Portuguese green soup) and a “pop” (small) handmade bread. A coffee or soft drink is also included. Malassadas (sugared fried dough) dessert is extra and there may be a line, but the cost is low.

The last day of the feast is Sunday and will feature a parade at 2:00pm with over forty different organizations marching the one mile route from Brooklawn Park to the Feast grounds at Madeira Field.

This year organizers are pulling out all the stops and there will be Color Guards, Marching Bands, Folkloric Groups, Jugglers, Giant Puppets, Gigantic Clydesdale Horses,Steel Drum Band, Bagpipers, Veterans Groups, Community & Cultural Heritage Organizations and much more!

Parade Route:
The parade begins at Brooklawn Park and proceeds south on Acushnet Avenue to Earle Street, turns east onto Earle Street and continues to the Immaculate Conception Church.
It then turns north onto Madeira Avenue and proceeds to Madeira Field 
where it enters the Feast grounds and past the reviewing stand at Stage 1.

2. Costs

There is no charge for admission and the entertainment is free thanks to the hard work of the committee members who comprise the 2024 Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Committee which in an historic move welcomed women. You can read about the decision here

Feast members come from all over the country to plan the feast each year, some as far away as California and Florida. Some of the members will be traveling from across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South Africa to attend the feast, but in the meantime, they have had family members representing them at the committee meetings.

While admission is free to walk around and watch the entertainment or visit the Museum of Madeiran Heritage there are also many vendors on the grounds selling everything from handmade Madeiran souvenirs to cigars. Of course, food, carnival rides, and beverages are also an additional cost.

Prices of food are kept reasonable, and there is a great deal of variety to choose from. Tickets cost a dollar each and can be purchased at many 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.

To give you a general idea of the prices of items at the feast, a full meal is 12 tickets, most sandwiches are around four tickets, and a soda or water goes for one ticket. If you’re over 21, an impressive selection of alcoholic beverages is available to choose from.

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 mouthwatering. Visitors are able to buy the meat for eight tickets a pound and a delicious aromatic salt is provided to cook with.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.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!)

Other items that will be featured at the feast include Milho Frito, fried cornmeal, garlic and finely shredded kale make this the perfect treat to go with Carne de Espeto, pasteis de Bacalau (codfish cakes), atum, cabra, favas, coelho, carne de vinho e alhos, malassadas, tremocos and other Portuguese classics. There will also be ice-cold fresh fruit cups, the perfect way to cool down for health-conscious attendees.

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.

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 that the taste of Madeira wine suits their pallet, there are a great variety of additional options including a full liquor bar for mix drinks and frozen 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.

There will be additional ID stations at this year’s feast due to the anticipated increase in numbers of attendees.

5. Entertainment

There is a great deal of quality free entertainment at the feast each year from Portuguese and American cultures. There are four separate stages of entertainment on the main grounds and a “Fado” stage at the Museum of Madeiran Heritage Courtyard Venue – these performances will be featuring 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 presents 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 by a headliner band. The 2024 Feast Headliner will be…..Badfish!

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.The phenomenon known as Sublime, arguably the most energetic, original and uniquely eclectic band to emerge from any scene, anywhere, ended with the untimely death of lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Brad Nowell in May of 1996.

But encompassing the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime’s music, Badfish continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time. What separates Badfish from other bands is that they have replicated Sublime’s essence, developing a scene and dedicated following most commonly reserved for label-driven, mainstream acts.

Badfish make their mark on the audience by playing with the spirit of Sublime. They perform not as Sublime would have, or did, but as Badfish does!”-Feast of the Blessed Sacrament.

BADFISH will be headling Thursday Night from 10:00pm-11:30pm on Stage 1.

Headlining Friday Night will be the FOOZ FIGHTERS from 10:00pm-11:30pm on Stage 1. The Award Winning Foo Fighters tribute band featuring dynamic frontman Nicky Rich, FOOZ FIGHTERS have blazed a trail to become the most sought-after Foo Fighters tribute band in the Nation.

Headlining Saturday Night will be NELIA from 10:00pm-11:30pm on Stage 1. Nelia is a local singer determined to break down long-standing barriers in the Luso-American community. On stage, she manages to capture mature audiences with her ethnic-flavored music while captivating younger crowds with her amazing stage presence.

Headlining Sunday Night will be BAND FAITH from 10:00pm-11:30pm on Stage 1). With almost 3 decades of music under their belt, New Bedford, Ma based BandFaith has been performing their mix of Portuguese/Latin fused music for fans all over the world.

For more information on when and where events will be taking place, go to the Portuguese Feast Entertainment Schedule.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.
Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.

6. Families

Since the 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.

Additional security precautions are always taken due to its size and significance. Few people realize this, but the Feast grounds are wired with such advanced cameras that all feast goers are on at least two cameras at any given time.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.

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 over 100 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 the 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.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.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.

The last day of the feast starts with Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception and “the Festeiros, Club Madeirense S. S. Sacramento, Inc. members, and all of the many volunteers receive the blessings of the church for their many hours of work devoted to achieving a successful Feast and for being respectful of its religious origins”. 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

Most of the events take place at Madeira Field, which is a 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 (88 Tinkham Street on your GPS). 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 private lot.

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).

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Feast of the Blessed Sacrament

50 Madeira Avenue
New Bedford, MA

Phone: (508) 992-6911
Email: clubesss@comcast.net

Website: feastoftheblessedsacrament.com
Facebook: facebook.com/FeastOfTheBlessedSacrament/

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As part of its celebration of Sunday’s National Superhero Day, the Friends of Jack Foundation last week recognized the staff and students at the Carlos Pacheco Elementary School in New Bedford. The New Bedford-based non-profit visited the school to help distribute superhero bags and pencils to all the students, and provided food and superhero capes for the staff. The Friends of Jack also dropped off a number of new toys which the staff uses throughout the year as an incentive for students’ positive behavior.

U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Southcoast Hospitals Group, including Charlton Memorial and St. Luke’s hospitals, as a 2024 Maternity Care Access Hospital, an inaugural designation.

“We are honored to earn this recognition for the excellent maternity care and service we provide our patients across the South Coast region,” said Kim Pina, MSN, RN, Executive Director of the Family Centered Unit/Level II Nursery at Southcoast Health. “I am honored to work with our incredible staff in Fall River and New Bedford who continually go above and beyond for every patient and their family members who are cared for in our hospitals.”

This year, the U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care evaluation recognizes 73 “Maternity Care Access Hospitals” across the nation. These essential hospitals provide quality care to expectant parents who would not otherwise have access to maternity care and serve communities that would otherwise be maternity care deserts. Southcoast Health is the only system in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to earn this recognition.

“Being named a Maternity Care Access Hospital is special recognition of hospitals across the U.S. which serve communities that depend on them for access to vital maternity care services,” said Jennifer Winston, health data scientist at U.S. News. “While an increasing number of maternity care deserts in parts of the country have left millions of people without local access to maternity care, these hospitals persist in providing this vital service to under-resourced communities.”

The U.S. News Maternity Care Access Hospitals designation is based on a number of measures including geographic isolation, number of obstetric providers per 10,000 births and hospital quality. Quality measures are outlined in the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology.

“Earning this national recognition demonstrates the ongoing commitment and dedication of our providers, nurses, and staff to continue bringing the highest quality care to our community,” said Christian Pope, DO, FACOG, Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology for Southcoast Health. “We are proud to provide our community exceptional, essential maternity care close to home and will continue to make this a top priority here at Southcoast Health.”

In addition to this recognition, in November Southcoast Health celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the first Southcoast Health Obstetrics and Gynecology office opening in New Bedford, MA. Today, the experienced team of over 19 OB/GYN providers work with women of all ages.

To learn more about Obstetrics & Gynecology and Maternity services please visit Obstetrics & Gynecology Services | Southcoast Health.

Can you help find this deserving love-bug a new forever home? Thank you to NEW LEAF of Fall River for sponsoring our pet of the week!
Here are some facts about the new potential addition to your family~

Kita ? 1 year old, 35 lb. female mixed breed. She is underweight at this time, so she will weigh more.

Kita is confident, social, and has never met a stranger! When you come visit her, she will want to say hello right away and will offer many kisses. Are her manners top notch? Honestly, nope ? But she’s working on it and learns quickly!

Kita knows how to sit and we’re working on down. She is very food motivated and eager to please. Kita has excellent leash manners and is ready for all of your outdoorsy adventures.

Kita likes other dogs but she is a rough player so her best playmates would be dogs similar in size to her or larger.
She has not met cats but can be tested for applicants.

Adopt: www.lighthouseanimalshelter.org/adopt
Foster: www.lighthouseanimalshelter.org/foster

Thank you once again to NEW LEAF of Fall River, located at 2629 South Main st. and OPEN LATE until 11pm every day! Follow them on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NewLeafCanna

Visit them online: https://www.newleafcanna.com/

New Bedford and Umass Dartmouth are at the center of groundbreaking scientific research that finds Cape Cod as one of the world’s largest hotspots for great white sharks.

In a scientific article named, “An open spatial capture−recapture framework for estimating the abundance and seasonal dynamics of white sharks at aggregation sites“ all 3 scientists are either working out of a New Bedford-based facility and/or affiliated with Umass Dartmouth.

The 3 cited scientists are:

Photo credit: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’ Megan V. Winton.
Megan V. Winton who is a ’23, PhD candidate at UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) in New Bedford, MA 02744, USA and staff scientist at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) in North Chatham, MA 02650, USA.

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Photo Credit: Boston University.

Gregory B. Skomal PhD, is a leading Massachusetts shark researcher and an experienced aquarist and Marine Fisheries Biologist conducting this research out of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, New Bedford, MA 02744, USA.

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Photo Credit: The University of Washington.

Gavin Fay who is a professor at the Department of Fisheries Oceanography, School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA 02744, USA.

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This study has deservedly made national headlines with researchers collecting nearly 3,000 videos of shark sightings from 137 trips to Cape Cod beaches which determined about 800 white sharks paid a visit to Cape waters between 2015 to 2018.

Sometimes we forget how truly lucky we are in the south coast to be surrounded by so many amazing scientific programs and world renown researchers.

Lets all tip the cap to these hard working individuals and look forward to all of the exciting research to come!

Everyone has come to love New Bedford for its fresh seafood, authentic Portuguese cuisine, and…coffee?

The local coffee scene specifically in the downtown area of New Bedford is turning into something special. From a European cafe on cobblestone streets to a small batch roastery on the waterfront, there is a uniqueness to the New Bedford coffee scene that is hard to match.

Many would say the downtown and waterfront areas of New Bedford are experiencing a renaissance. Between the South Coast Rail, Vineyard Wind, Cisco Brewery, Killburn Mills, and now luxury apartments. I believe there is no doubt that more amazing local coffee shops will be popping up with the growth we are seeing in New Bedford.

But until then I present to you the 5 best local coffee shops in New Bedford as of 2023!

5. Cafe Arpeggio

Established in 2004 and located in the heart of downtown New Bedford at the intersection of William and Purchase street, Cafe Arpeggio is a staple in the city and should make everyone’s list. They offer micro roasted coffee, liege style waffles, smoothies, smoothie bowls, breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, and freshly baked pastries!

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4. Green Bean

Located at 740 Purchase Street in Downtown New Bedford, the Green Bean has high ceilings, large windows, a minimalist aesthetic, and great coffee! They are vegan friendly and offer coffee, smoothies, fresh juice, breakfast & lunch sandwiches. This is a great spot to sit down and get some work done on your laptop!

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3. Tia Marias

Tia Marias is a European cafe nestled in the heart of the National Historical Whaling Park along the cobblestone streets of New Bedford. Some might get angry that I rank them so highly because they are really a full service restaurant rather than a “coffee shop”, but you can walk in and order coffee & pastries at the counter therefore they are a coffee shop in my eyes! They also just finished a major expansion which features a cozy bistro bar and fireplace.

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2. Groundfloor Coffee

Groundfloor Coffee is a small batch roastery located at 61 Merrill’s Wharf on the waterfront. Putting them at #2 could ruffle some feathers because they have only been open for about a month at the time of writing this article, but I am here to tell you that age is just a number. This coffee shop is phenomenal! Inside is a sleek modern aesthetic featuring a “Modbar Espresso machine” and a vegan friendly menu, although they do serve non vegan options as well! With a prime waterfront location, a beautiful interior aesthetic, and great coffee, this coffee shop answered the prayers of a lot of New Bedford coffee lovers!

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1. Dough Company (DoCo)

In my opinion Dough Company otherwise known as “Do Co” is one of the most underrated places in New Bedford. Dough Company is a local-focused cafe and eatery located in the Kilburn Mills in the south end of New Bedford. They are walking distance to West Beach and the New Bedford Cove Walk, and under the same roof as dozens of amazing local stores, art galleries, fitness studios, and many other exciting things the Kilburn Mills has to offer. Do Co has all sorts of craft coffee beverages made from locally roasted coffee, delicious pastries, as well as full service breakfast and lunch. Inside it has tall ceilings, tons of plants, and two floors of seating.

“The New Bedford High School Concert Band recently traveled to Washington, D.C. from April 28 to May 1 to participate in the Music in the Parks Festival in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The festival showcased talented student musicians from across the country, and the New Bedford High School Concert Band stood out among the competition.

The band earned a 1st Place rating in the High School Concert Band Division, Class AA, with a rating of Excellent and Best Overall Concert Band for the entire festival. In addition to performing at the festival, the band had the opportunity to explore the nation’s capital. “The trip was truly unforgettable for our students, performing in a prestigious venue and experiencing the history and culture of Washington, D.C.,” said Matthew C. Pacheco, Band Director of the NBHS Band. Sarah Fernandes, the Lead Percussion Instructor, reflected on the performance by saying, ‘we’re growing the program and these students are paving the way’.

Makenna Calvao, drum major and trumpet player, and Sarah Silveira, drum major and flute player, expressed their excitement about the band’s success at the festival. “The performance was one of our best and it showed in how we ended up doing! It felt great to hear our name for both first place and overall, representing New Bedford with so much pride!”

Superintendent Thomas Anderson praised students and staff, stating, “Their collective commitment to excellence is a shining example of the caliber of talent and dedication in our school district. We strive to create an environment that sparks creativity and cultivates the many gifts that our students have. Every day our outstanding educators do an excellent job facilitating the learning process and they are appreciated.”

Bernadette Coelho, NBHS Principal, celebrated the win, noting, “Our band exemplifies Whaler Pride and in this latest instance they’ve shined on the national stage at a very competitive event. We are proud of our students and so pleased to see their hard work recognized.”

Lynn Souza, Director of Fine Arts, New Bedford Public Schools, noted the band’s success at the festival is a testament to the dedication of the students and their instructors. “We are incredibly proud of the New Bedford High School Concert Band and their outstanding performance at the Music in the Parks Festival. Their diligence has paid off.”

For more information about the music programs at New Bedford Public Schools, contact Lynn Souza, lsouza@newbedfordschools.org.”

“The New Bedford Local Cultural Council (NBLCC) is pleased to announce the grant awardees for 2023. New Bedford was allocated a total of $140,200 to distribute during the 2023 grant cycle. This funding is granted to individuals, groups, and agencies whose projects enhance the arts, science, and humanities in the city of New Bedford.

Each year, volunteer council members sift through dozens of applications. The Council grants to those that: Promote and improve the quality of life for residents of New Bedford by providing venues that enhance education, diversity, arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. Based on a survey of New Bedford residents in the summer of 2022, projects were prioritized that are free and low-cost, provide opportunities for education and skill-building, offer outdoor art and performances, and support local artists.

The Council strives to fund as many projects as possible. This year, 84 of the 117 applications were chosen for awards. The NBLCC salutes the creativity of all those that applied for grants and took the time to read and apply the Council’s priorities.

For those that would like to apply for next year’s grant cycle, go to the New Bedford Local Cultural Council website: https://www.mass-culture.org/new-bedford

Note that the present application dates and council priorities have not yet been updated from last year. These dates and priorities will be changed in August and the application opens in September. Deadline for applications is typically mid-October.

The council maintains a Facebook page that shares information pertaining to grant due dates. Follow them at Facebook.com/NBCulturalCouncil.

For those who would like to know more about other grant opportunities, along with arts and programs in New Bedford, log onto– NewBedfordCreative.org. This online destination showcases the artists, artisans, attractions, events, and venues which form the cultural fabric of this seaport city on the South Coast of Massachusetts.

New Bedford Cultural Council 2023 Awardees:

• 11th Annual New Bedford JazzFest
• 2023 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
• African Drumming Music Class
• An Intimate Evening with the Author
• Art and Yoga Camp
• Artist and Designer in Residency Program
• Artists Share!
• Balloon Animal Twisting workshop
• Booker T. Washington Mural
• Breaking Rules to Help Humanity: Exploring the Possibilities of 3D Printing in Architecture
• Building Healthy Communities Through Dance
• Cape Verdean Recognition Parade
• Carving Out Your Story
• Celebrating Community in Placemaking
• Co-Creative Sessions
• Community Blooms
• Creature Feature
• dNB Holiday Stroll
• Draw Your Story
• Dyeing to Wear It: Color Across the Americas
• Field trip to Plimouth Patuxet Museums
• Field Trip to Round the Bend Farm
• Finding Your Voice Through STEAM
• First Annual Indoor Mural Slam
• Free Art Workshops for Children at NB Public Library
• Free Family Yoga at Wilks Library
• Full STEAM Ahead
• Gallery X Unplugged 2023
• Game UnPlugged: with Music on a Thursday Night
• GLCPS Drama Club – The Lion King, Jr.
• Go, Go, Go! New Bedford Festival Theatre’s Summer Academy 2023
• Gothic Ghost Tales by Candlelight
• Grade 3 Field Trip to Plimoth Patuxet Museum & Mayflower II
• Grade 5 Field Trip to the Zeiterion Theater
• Greater New Bedford Choral Society’s 2022-23 Season
• Happy Camp
• Helping New Bedford Students “Ease On Down the Road” to New Bedford Festival Theatre’s The Wiz: Funding Transportation Costs for a Student Matinee Opportunity
• Henna at the Library
• Hip Hop Chair Dance for Seniors!
• Historic Trees of New Bedford Walking Tour 1: Walk for Health
• Histories and Mysteries: Local Fishing History and Global Fishing Mythology
• I am Autistic I am Fantastic
• IGNITE Youth Art Showcase
• Jazz at AHA!
• Johnny Cash – Songs & Stories
• La Soul Renaissance -Black August Cultural Memory Celebration
• MAGIC SCHOOL BUS: TRIP TO THE SOLAR SYSTEM
• Magic School Bus: Trip to The Solar System
• Movement Through Color: Silk Yoga Flow
• MUSE Incorporated – Musical Visits for Seniors
• NBHS Drama Club presents The SpongeBob Musical
• New Moon Projects: BodyBodyBody, Riverside Beats, and New Moon Roller Disco
• On the Road to Creativity at YOUR Library!
• Origami Storigami
• Passport to History 2023
• Patio de Comida/Guatemalan Festival
• Photography Thesis Exhibit by Class of 2023 of Umass Dartmouth CVPA
• Plant Communities of Massachusetts
• POP-UP Projections
• Practice Best Practice Workshops
• PRIDE, June 14th AHA! Night
• Public Art Projects
• “Queer à Portuguesa” Being at Home Coming Out
• Scapeghost Presents: Unexpected Music
• SCCT Presents “The Addams Family Musical”
• Seaport Art Walk: 10th Anniversary
• Shakespeare in New Bedford 2023 – The Tempest
• Showcasing Local Musicians & Local Food
• Slow Stitch Folk Art Fridays
• Spreading Joy Through Singing – Cape Verde Connections
• Spring into Action & Song
• Stove Boat Concert Series
• Summer Show – Henry Martyn Robert
• Symmetry in Shapes and Sound
• Talking Puppets of my Heritage-New Bedford Alive!
• Teen Artist Internship Program
• The Magic Around Us
• The Seaport Sessions
• The Student Showcase
• The Tragedy of Carmen
• Unite with Love: Community, Self, and the Environment
• Walkways: Exploring the People and Places of Historic New Bedford
• Your Theatre’s Actor Workshop Series
• YWkids School Age Child Care Program”

“Yesterday my wife lost her wallet at Stop and Shop with all the credit cards documentation and a good amount of money.

After going there and talking to a few people and making a few posts we kind of accepted that the wallet was lost, money and everything in it. An one hour ago my wife got a phone call from somebody in is 20s saying that since yesterday he was trying to reach her because he has her wallet! Her license had the old address so today he insisted on going there and he got her phone number that our old landlord.

All the money was there, all the documents were there, and all of this from a young kid that could simply have taken the money and put the wallet in the trash.

I was so excited that I forgot to ask for his name so maybe he’s a member of this page and see this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! You saved us a lot of work to replace all of that and the money.

Edit: After talking to him and having his permission here’s his Facebook page. Thank you so much!”-Nuno Peixoto.

New Bedford (and all the local towns) should really do something like this.

As seen on the official city of Taunton Facebook page:

“Fall is in the air, and our Scarecrow Friends have arrived downtown! Take a ride around and see all of the creative work done by both Taunton Schools & Businesses. Cast your votes here on Facebook by “liking” your favorites. The Scarecrows (one school & one business) with the most ??/❤️ will be this year’s winners. Voting starts now and will end on Friday, October 28th at noon. Good Luck to everyone – these Scarecrows are ALL Awesome!” #ScarecrowContest #Vote #FallFun #TauntonMA

There are some truly spooky, scary and funny ones in the mix this year. Go cast your vote by visiting the page and click through the gallery: https://www.facebook.com/cityoftaunton/posts/pfbid02WssfLPnSuAtXqaRk1Ku2EgpBPnc92UwPdMsFoP6c5nEk1F3mBw7kJTCYF2i5Zfo5l

Here are some of our favorites:
Scooby Doo!

Tiger Nation

Corpse Bride

Crow-meo and Ghoul-iette!

Fortune Teller

Creature from the black lagoon

and this awesome Sponge Bob!