The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is a signature North End event. The annual, four day feast – or festa, as it’s known locally – is the largest Portuguese feast in the world. It takes places the first weekend of August every year, running from Thursday to Sunday.

It was founded in 1915 by four Portuguese men who wanted to recreate the religious festivals that were so common in the villages of their home island of Madeira – and to commemorate their safe passage to America.

Today, thousands travel to New Bedford’s North End each year for New England’s largest ethnic festival. A parade down Acushnet Avenue to the Feast grounds a few blocks east of The Ave winds down the celebration each year on Sunday.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament dates for 2019 are as follows:

August 1, 2019 – Thursday – 6:00 PM – 11:45 PM

August 2, 2019 – Friday – 12 Noon – 11:45 PM

August 3, 2019 – Saturday – 12 Noon – 11:45 PM

August 4, 2019 – Sunday – 12 Noon – 11:45 PM

Where: 50 Madeira Ave, New Bedford, MA

All photos in this gallery by Josh Souza for the NBEDC. Click on any image to start slideshow.