Hot, hot, hot! Your guide to summer fun on South Coast

Americans know how to celebrate. Here on the South Coast, we’re partly celebrating the summer weather that we bask in from June through August. Festivals, parades, and festas make the most of our time to play when sparkling water and balmy days draw us outdoors.

While Memorial Day, July 4^th, and Labor Day have solemn meaning, the holidays also are focal points for fun. From now to early September, every weekend — and some weekdays, too — offers one or more attractions to enjoy with family and friends.

“I always think there’s a special energy in New Bedford, but in the summertime is when it gets amped up with all of the festivals and events that happen,” said Margo Saulnier of New Bedford Creative. “I always look forward to summers in New Bedford.”

The director of creative strategies agrees that the summer months bursting with activities are not just enjoyable for South Coast residents, but a magnet for visitors.

“Our philosophy at New Bedford Creative [under the umbrella of the New Bedford Economic Development Council] is that if we make our city vibrant and thriving and a cool place to live, that other people will want to come and visit. So our priority is the residents and businesses of New Bedford, but we want other people to experience all of the talent and cool things there are to do here.”

Cape Verdean Recognition Week

One of the biggest and most joyful occasions in New Bedford is the Cape Verdean Recognition Parade, set for July 1. It celebrates the July 5 Independence Day of the island nation where many in New Bedford have their roots.

The grand marshal of the 51^st parade is John B. Cruz III, president and CEO of the Cruz Companies, one of the oldest and largest minority-owned companies in the Northeast. Among his professional associations, Cruz is past president of the Cape Verdean American Business Organization, and has been a powerful advocate for hiring minority workers.

Born in Wareham, he got his start in construction working alongside his father, John “Bertie” Cruz Jr. During his career, his Roxbury-based company has been general contractor for such major projects as The Fortress, the Boston Police Department headquarters, and Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.

Diane Gomes, chair of the parade committee since 2013, noted that Cape Verdean Recognition Week is a huge reunion for the Cape Verdean community, with families planning a week’s vacation to travel back to New Bedford for the festivities. Gomes herself has relatives that come from Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, Atlanta, and New York.

The celebration will be capped off with the 51st annual Cape Verdean Recognition Parade beginning at 11 a.m. July 1. The parade steps off from Rockdale Avenue and Union Street at Buttonwood Park, and travels down Union to turn right on Acushnet Avenue, right onto Grinnell Street, and right onto Purchase Street. The parade ends at the reviewing stand located at the Cape Verdean American Veterans Memorial Hall at 561 Purchase St.

Other Cape Verdean Recognition Week events include:

• 9 a.m. June 25, Memorial Mass for deceased members of the Cape Verdean Recognition Committee, at Our Lady of Assumption Church.
• 6 p.m. June 26, raising of the Republic of Cape Verde flag outside New Bedford City Hall.
• 6 p.m. June 28, the Cape Verdean Recognition Committee Scholarship presentation at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
• 3-9 p.m. June 29, Recognition Music Festival.

“On Thursday, we have our Recognition Music Festival at Cisco [Brewers Kitchen & Bar]. Last year was our first year, and it was such a great success that we decided to have it again this year,” Gomes said. The event at 1482 East Rodney French Blvd. features a lineup including the Sympatico Band, the Kabu Jazz Ensemble featuring Candida Rose, the James Montgomery Blues Band, and other featured artists. Tickets for the festival, $40, are available at eventbrite.com

Gomes’ favorite part of the parade is “the marching bands and the drum corps. But last year we had a separate committee to bring more Cape Verdean culture to the parade. We had a lot of different groups participate last year that brought different styles of Cape Verdean music and dance, and that was a highlight for me. We’re planning on doing the same this year.”

Applications to participate in the parade will be accepted up to June 23, Gomes said.

The 107^th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament

The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is another landmark event of summer in New Bedford. The 107^th edition hosted by Club Madeirense S.S. Sacramento will draw more than 100,000 people to the feast grounds Aug. 3-6. It’s another terrific homecoming magnet, established in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants who wanted to recreate the religious festivals of their home villages and to give thanks for their safe passage to America.

This year’s president, James Gouveia, leads a committee of 30 and the more than 1,000 volunteers that make the feast happen. Gouveia has been a festeiro since 1979, along with his cousin Dennis Freitas, now vice president.

Live music, kids’ entertainment, folkloric dancers, and carnival rides are a huge draw, as are the sizzling carne d’espeto that feast goers cook to their own taste over a barbecue pit, pillowy malassadas, traditional dinners, and casks of Madeira wine imported especially for the feast.

Hours are 6 to 11:45 p.m. Aug. 3, 5 to 11:45 p.m. Aug. 4, noon to 11:45 p.m. Aug. 5-6.

The feast’s grand finale is another of New Bedford’s great parades, beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday Aug. 6, tracing a route from Brooklawn Park to the feast grounds on Madeira Avenue.

For more details, visit feastoftheblessedsacrament.com/.

Pride Festival 2023

Pride is the thread that runs through Cape Verdean Recognition Week and the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. Another such event is Pride 2023, hosted by the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3 at Buttonwood Park.

A swirl of music, vendors, information booths, drag performances, and more will fill the city park as LGBTQ+ folks, their friends, family, and allies celebrate loud and proud. A Pride Wellness Walk at 9 a.m. and Pride Yoga at 10 will warm attendees up for the festivities.

In the face of the anti-gay and anti-transgender bias spreading across the nation, the event is an affirmation of New Bedford as a welcoming community. Kerry Zeida, marketing director of the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network, agrees it’s more important than ever, considering the current climate.

“The struggle for equality and acceptance doesn’t end, right? You keep fighting for it. This is just another step in the journey for us,” Zeida says. “I think that we didn’t necessarily expect what has happened … all the negativity and the politicization of LGBTQ rights, but it’s here and the best way to deal with it, we feel, is to stay positive, keep finding opportunities to bring people together. And just help everybody be who they are and celebrate who they are, joyously and unapologetically.”

For more on New Bedford Pride 2023 and other events celebrating the month, visit sclgbtqnetwork.org/pride-2023.html

NB Roots and Branches

New to the scene this year is the NB Roots and Branches festival, set for noon to 6 p.m. July 22. While faithful fans of the New Bedford Folk Festival were saddened and disappointed by the news that it would not return for a 26^th edition this summer, they will be able to tap their toes and hum along to a slate of 30 acoustic music acts spread among downtown venues including Wings Court, Destination Soups, Pour Farm Tavern, and April Evans Beauty Lounge. Admission is free.

Fiddler Jeff Angeley, owner and director of Southcoast Lessons, leads a talented committee that includes Samantha Babineau, Christian Camarao, and Steven Brum.

“Our acts are going to be all regional acts — so, people from Boston south or Providence and towards this way, with a heavy emphasis on people who are local,” Angeley said.

“The goal is purely to make sure that we have a fun event that people come to and the people who play at it feel like it was an awesome thing to do. And the people who host them are excited to participate in something like this again in the future, because it’s good for them too,” Angeley said. Independent musicians can be considered small-business people, just like the downtown businesses that are sharing their spaces for the day, so the festival is a symbiotic enterprise. Downtown New Bedford Inc. is the festival’s fiscal sponsor.

Festival goers will be able to ramble from one venue to the next to sample traditional music, rootsy rock, indie folk, contemporary singer-songwriters, and experimental acoustic music.

Among the well-loved local performers who will be showcased are The Jethros, Putnam Murdock, Pumpkin Head Ted, Marybeth Soares, and Joanne Doherty. There will be an old-time fiddle session as well as an Irish fiddle session hosted by Colin Everett, performances by the New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus and a young people’s string band, and participatory singing with the Sacred Harp Singers.

Also among those performing will be Hot Club Cheese Roll, Roots Run Wild, Fourteen Strings, Christian Camarao, Born October, and Pebbles of Rain.

For details about performers, schedule, and sponsors, visit southcoastlessons.com/nbrootsandbranches

The Buzzards Bay Musicfest

Classical works are the focus of the Buzzards Bay Musicfest, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary with free concerts offered at 8 p.m. July 12 through 16 at Tabor Academy’s Fireman Center for Performing Arts, Marion.

Founded by Artistic Director Russell Patterson, since 2013 the festival has been led by violinist Charles Stegeman, an original member of the orchestra. Guest conductor is Antony Walker.

In keeping with tradition, two orchestral concerts and two chamber concerts will be presented, featuring works of Mozart, Saint-Saens, Beethoven, Schumann, and Piazzola, among others.

Marking the 25^th anniversary with “A Silver Celebration” at 8 p.m. July 14 will be the return of the BBMF 10-piece swing band directed by Phil Sanborn, band leader and trombonist.

You can find more information at buzzardsbaymusicfest.com.

Plan on it!

Consider adding these events to your calendar. Some are classics; some of more recent vintage.

June 1: Midsummer in the Woods, a Pride gala that begins at 6 p.m. at Round the Bend Farm in Dartmouth, will benefit the building of the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network’s planned center. Tickets for the Shakespeare-inspired evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvre, dinner, and live performances cost $200. Tickets: sclgbtqnetwork.org/pride-2023.html

June 2-4: The Day of Portugal celebration will take place at Senhor da Pedra Society, 81 Tinkham St., New Bedford. There will be entertainment by Edge (Friday), BandFaith (Saturday) Concertinas do Norte, Enio, Rancho Folclorico and Conjunto OS Capitalistas (Sunday). BandFaith’s single, “Saudades de Portugal,” a pandemic-era ode to the motherland, won the award for Música Popular at the 2022 International Portuguese Music Awards. Traditional food and drinks will be available.

The holiday is celebrated June 10 throughout 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 10 marks the 1580 death of the revered Portuguese poet, Luís Vaz de Camões.

June 3: Put on your cowboy hat and prepare for some boot scootin’. Club Sport Madeirense is hosting the second annual Country Music Festa from 1 to 7 p.m. at Madeira Field. The scholarship fundraiser will feature the Liz Spencer Band, Daniel Miller, and Jake Hunsinger, along with DJ Shane and line dancing taught by Boot Scootin’ Sarah. Tickets for the 21-plus event are available through eventbrite: $10; $25 includes admission and a pig roast. At the gate, admission will be $15. Several food trucks will be on hand. 50 Madeira Ave., New Bedford.

June 8: Balmy evenings add another facet of enjoyment to AHA! Night in Downtown New Bedford. Creativity, arts, and culture blossom from 5 to 9 p.m. on second Thursdays each month. Summer themes are: June 8, PRIDE; July 13, Kids Rule; Aug. 10, Summer in the Seaport.

June 9: Camp United Bash will summon up all the fun of a perfect camping trip. The Camp United Bash, which benefits the United Way of Greater New Bedford, will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Camp Massasoit in Mattapoisett. There’ll be live music, food from the grill, camp-themed snacks, a cash bar, classic lawn games, a tempting silent auction, and everybody’s favorite: s’mores by the fire. Proceeds of the event benefit United Way of Greater New Bedford programs and services. For tickets, $100, visit unitedwayofgnb.org/camp-united-bash

June 9: The 2023 edition of the city-sponsored Summer Sound Series kicks off from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with the Diane Blue All-Star Band with Ricky King Russell. The block party-style events alternate between Lower Union Street and Purchase Street from June 9 through Sept. 15. Dance and enjoy beverages from local establishments while you enjoy the tunes. For the full lineup, visit destinationnewbedford.org/summer-sound-series/

June 9: Nothing But Trouble: The Annual Garden Party at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House is set amid drifts of roses in their prime. The speakeasy-style event comes complete with whiskey cocktails, period music, and a password for entry. The $130 ticket includes seasonal hors d’oeuvre, an open bar, and lavish décor. Proceeds support the museum’s educational, community outreach, and preservation efforts. The gala fundraiser takes place from 6-9 p.m. at 396 County St., New Bedford. Tickets

June 17: The BuyBlackNB Pop-Up Vendor Market will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the gardens of the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum at 396 County St., New Bedford. At this Juneteenth weekend event, shop a curated selection of local Black-owned businesses while enjoying music, giveaways, networking, and community building. Free.

June 22: DATMA (Massachusetts Design Art Technology Institute) has shared intriguing, thought-provoking art installations in New Bedford since the memorable “Summer Winds” in 2019. From 5 to 7 p.m., join in a festive event for the whole family to celebrate DATMA’s fifth anniversary of fabulous public art. Gather with artists and community partners, and enjoy performances by local poets, dance groups, and more. Custom House Square, downtown New Bedford. Learn more here.

June 23: The dedication of Abolition Row Park, opposite the Nathan and Polly Johnson House at 21 Seventh St., New Bedford, is set for 1 p.m. There will be a ribbon-cutting, speakers, music, and the unveiling of sculptor Richard Blake’s powerful statue of the young Frederick Douglass, whose first home as a free man was in the Johnsons’ home. Learn more at nbhistoricalsociety.org/ or email info@nbhistoricalsociety.org

June 24: The Buzzards Bay Swim starts at the beach at Cisco Brewers Kitchen & Bar, 1482 E. Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, at 7 a.m. Swimmers, under the watchful eyes of safety patrols, navigate 1.2 miles across the outer New Bedford harbor and channel, passing Butler Flats lighthouse on their way to Fort Phoenix Beach State Reservation. At the finish, swimmers are welcomed by cheering spectators and treated to a beach party featuring a live steel drum band, a pancakes breakfast, gourmet coffee, and local beer. The fundraiser benefits the Buzzards Bay Coalition, a nonprofit organization that works to protect clean water in our region. Details at savebuzzardsbay.org/

June 25: The first of three “Reggae on the Beach” gatherings runs from noon to 4 p.m. at West Beach Pavilion, 239 W. Rodney French Blvd. The three events offer an eclectic mix of reggae music, food, art, shopping local, and community resources. June 25 features Coastal Foodshed, Latinas in the South Coast, The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network, and Bristol Black Collective, among others. If you miss this one, don’t worry, be happy: You can head to the South End July 30 or Aug. 27.

July 4: As of publication of this story, plans were still coming together for the city’s Fourth of July celebration, said Avery Denby, assistant project manager in New Bedford’s tourism and marketing department, but weather permitting, the traditional fireworks display will blaze across the sky over the harbor at 9 p.m.

July 6: Soiree at the Zoo, 6 to 9 p.m. at the Buttonwood Park Zoo for a wild evening of delicious food, cocktails, encounters with animals, the annual “Zoolala” auction, and dancing to the music of Mike Benjamin and the Keepers. The Buttonwood Park Zoological Society says that whether your interest is environmental education, wildlife conservation, or building a better New Bedford, your support will create positive change today and pay dividends to the community for generations to come. bpzoo.org/

July 6-9: A favorite since 1970, the Whaling City Festival fills Buttonwood Park with the excitement of wrestling shows, amusement rides, kids’ activities, and an array of vendors. Oh, and don’t forget the festival food! Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. July 6, noon to 9 p.m. July 7-9.

July 8: The first El Patio de Comida of the summer will serve up traditional foods such as tacos, pupusas, grilled meat, fruit desserts, and more at Riverside Park, Belleville Avenue. Food entrepreneurs from the Spanish-speaking community sell their specialties at the biweekly event, organized by the New Bedford Community Development Economic Center (CEDC). It will take place every Saturday through Aug. 19, except Aug. 5. The Festival Tipico de Guatemala caps off the season on Aug. 26, with food, dance, music and more.

July 15: The New Bedford Whaling Museum presents Under the Sea, its annual summer benefit, beginning with a cocktail reception and raw bar on the plaza at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a live auction under a tent. The gala takes its theme from “A Singularly Marine and Fabulous Produce: the Cultures of Seaweed,” the museum’s major summer exhibition. Attendees also will get an insiders’ preview of upcoming projects. Individual tickets are $275, available at whalingmuseum.org. For information, call (508) 717-6856.

Aug. 12: The 4th annual commUNITY Roll Out runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet up at Rockdale Avenue and Union Street to take the streets on bikes, skates, scooters, strollers, or walkers. Roll together through the streets while jamming out with DJ Frankie Rhymin followed by roller disco at the Buttonwood Park basketball court, courtesy of New Moon. Motorized bikes and boards aren’t allowed. The event is hosted by Southcoast Shipwreckers Junior Roller Derby, Reggae on West Beach, New Moon Dance Party, Chakira Gonsalves, and Frank Barros Jr.

Sept. 15: The 2023 edition of the Summer Sound Series wraps up with East Coast Soul performing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dance and enjoy your favorite drink from local establishments while you enjoy the music. For details, visit destinationnewbedford.org/summer-sound-series/

Joanna McQuillan Weeks is a freelance writer and frequent correspondent for The New Bedford Light.This is by no means an exhaustive list! As summer rolls on, be sure to check out the Light’s Arts and Culture Calendar for updates. Another resource is Destination New Bedford.

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