PORTUGUESE FESTIVAL IS A BLESSING
The Festival Team Makes Changes to Provincetown Portuguese Festival Celebration

After meeting regularly since November to plan the Festival’s more than 30 events, the Festival Team was suddenly faced with the challenge of canceling and making changes as the impact of the COVID-19 virus became visible. With a background of over 800 total years of Provincetown heritage the Festival Team was determined to review its mission and work with town officials to continue the spirit of a 70 year celebration the community and nearly 30,000 visitors have enjoyed annually during the last weekend in June.

The result is the downsizing of the celebration to the following activities:

• The Commemorative Booklet will continue to share the heritage of Provincetown with articles and recognition of Festival sponsors. Go back through past booklets right here on the website or print them out if you like!

• Festival T-Shirts
Festival T-Shirts Are Heading To Provincetown!
The Festival T Shirts are on the way. For those who have ordered for Pick Up, they are available on Friday, June 19th and Saturday, June 20th from 9 AM to Noon. The location is St. Peter's Parish Hall, 11 Prince Street in Provincetown. Please wear your mask and respect social distancing when you pick up.

Date & Time:
Friday, June 19th from 9 AM to Noon
Saturday, June 20th from 9 AM to Noon

Pick Up Location:
St. Peter's Parish Hall, 11 Prince Street, Provincetown.

This year the T-Shirt features a painting of the vessel Joan and Tom by Thomas A. D. Watson.
Thanks to all who purchased their 2020 T-Shirts! See you at the Festival in 2021

Every year the art contributed by the artist is auctioned off during a special Festival Art auction at the Red Inn in early May, with all proceeds going to the Festival. This year, without an auction, the Joan and Tom painting was purchased at a generous price exceeding any sale in previous years. It will hang in the home of Charles and Susan Souza of Provincetown. Charles is a member of the Festival Team.

• “The Blessing”, which became the Blessing of The Fleet and expanded to include the Portuguese Festival will occur. Held on the last Sunday in June, “The Blessing” begins with the Fishermen’s Mass, then fills the center of town and MacMillan Pier to capacity.

However, the event will be downsized and limited, making it similar to the original Blessing of The Fleet of 1948. A time is yet to be determined but will be based on town regulations. In essence, the “Blessing” will be the only Festival event; the boats will be blessed.

• Provincetown will be decorated with a goal of sharing a little bit of our heritage but even more important, it will be an expression of gratitude to those men, women and children working hard to keep our community safe and helping those in need of care. The flags along Commercial St. in Lopes Sq. and Portuguese Sq. will celebrate June Portuguese Heritage month. Portuguese roosters will appear in their usual places around town.

The Festival Team and volunteers are pleased to be able to offer this downsized version of the Festival and in no way wants to interfere with local town and other agencies guidelines for getting through these unfortunate times. We wish to be part of the solution, and in doing so we will provide additional information to the public through our digital media and other Festival announcements as it becomes available.

Be safe and we look forward to seeing you at Festival 2021.

The Festival Team

Liliana DeSousa
Maureen Joseph Hurst
Susan Leonard
Tim McNulty
Jeff Perry
Don Murphy
Paul Silva
Charles Souza