Three special projects from the Love The Ave Partnership will bring new energy, creativity, and color to Acushnet Avenue throughout the month of June—enhancing both the storefronts and interiors of businesses while celebrating the culture and community spirit that define The Ave.
One of the month’s signature initiatives is The Ave en Flor, a storefront beautification project that will see 10 businesses transform their facades with vibrant seasonal floral displays. The project is designed to brighten the corridor, encourage foot traffic, and showcase the pride merchants take in their businesses and neighborhood. As participating storefronts are featured on Love The Ave social media throughout the month, the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite display, with the winning business receiving a grand prize.
At the same time, Love The Ave partner New Bedford Creative will launch a special public art initiative connecting local artists with neighborhood businesses. Three area artists will be selected to exhibit their work inside carefully chosen venues along Acushnet Avenue, creating gallery-style experiences within everyday community spaces. The featured artwork will also be available for purchase, giving visitors a chance to support both local artists and local businesses while experiencing the creative talent thriving in New Bedford.
Rounding out the month’s programming is the Love The Ave Sidewalk Sale, taking place Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Timed to coincide with the Day of Portugal festivities at nearby Madeira Field, the event will transform the North End’s commercial corridor into a lively open-air marketplace filled with shopping, culture, and community activity.
For one festive afternoon, merchants will extend their businesses onto the sidewalks with tables, racks, and displays featuring special promotions, unique merchandise, and neighborhood charm. From longtime family-owned establishments to newer entrepreneurs bringing fresh energy to the district, the Sidewalk Sale highlights the rich diversity and retail heritage that have long defined Acushnet Avenue.
Acushnet Avenue has always been more than a shopping district—it is a cultural crossroads where generations of immigrant families, small business owners, and community members have built lasting connections. That legacy continues today through an ever-evolving mix of shops, services, and restaurants representing cultures from around the world. The Sidewalk Sale invites visitors to experience that spirit firsthand while exploring the businesses that make The Ave one of New Bedford’s most distinctive destinations.
Participating merchants will feature promotions throughout the day, with some deals announced in advance and others discovered by visitors as they stroll from storefront to storefront. Guests are also encouraged to make time to enjoy lunch, dinner, or a quick treat at one of the many restaurants and cafés that have helped make The Ave a regional destination for authentic global cuisine.
Visitors will find convenient parking available along the corridor as well as at three city-owned lots located at Acushnet Avenue and Coggeshall Street, behind Cotali Mar Restaurant off Sawyer Street, and across from historic St. Anthony of Padua Church.
Together, these three June initiatives reflect the Love The Ave Partnership’s ongoing commitment to strengthening neighborhood businesses, supporting artists and entrepreneurs, and creating welcoming experiences that encourage residents and visitors alike to discover everything Acushnet Avenue has to offer.
Island Park Ribbon-cutting
Renovating a century-old former theater is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it’s a long, tough slog involving planning, renovation, fundraising – and then more of all that.
There are milestones along the way, however, and the Cape Verdean Cultural Center – being created in the former Strand Theater at 1157 Acushnet Avenue – gets to celebrate one on Friday, June 5. And, so do you!
The entire community is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Island Park adjacent to the center and now ready to assume its place as an outdoor hub of culture on The Ave.
Swing by on Friday, June 5 from 6-8:00 p.m. as the ribbon is cut, refreshments are served, and music is provided by members of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.
St. Anthony of Padua Festival
The iconic church that helps define The Ave, St. Anthony of Padua Church at 1359 Acushnet Avenue will hold an outdoor festival on Saturday, June 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Expect food, games, raffles and fun!
PRIDEFEST 2026
The Gallery Bar NB at 20 Kenyon Street, North End, New Bedford will be hosting a PRIDE festival on Saturday, June 13. They write, “For one unforgettable day, the entire street transforms into a massive celebration of PRIDE, music, art, nightlife, food, drag, dancing, community, and pure energy in the heart of New Bedford.”
It’s free and fun for the whole family from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. “Experience an all-ages Pride festival packed with food trucks, local vendors, live entertainment, community spaces, art, music, family activities, and nonstop vibes across the entire block.”
From 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the block becomes a 21+ only party with a $10 cover as, “the night comes alive with drag performances, live music, house DJ’s, beer garden, liquor tent, dancing, nightlife experiences, and the ultimate Pride party atmosphere. (The indoor experience continues until 1:00 a.m.)
The Gallery Bar is the ONLY LGBTQ+ bar in New Bedford – and we’re fortunate to have it in the North End!
(Valid government-issued photo ID’s WILL be required for entry into all 21+ sections of the event for the ENTIRE duration of Pride festivities, including access to the Beer Garden, Liquor Tent, and all evening 21+ event areas.)
Patio de Comida keeps it sizzling
A summer tradition continues on Saturday, June 27 when Patio de Comida, the outdoor food fair featuring Central American cuisine, returns for another summer.
This year, Patio de Comida takes place right across the street from sponsor Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) at 235 N. Front Street. The area may feel familiar to some; it’s where the Polish Festival took place each year before Our Lady of Perpetual Church closed its doors.
Now the church is the home of the CEDC, and boasts a commercial-grade kitchen (read more here) in its basement. By keeping the food closer to the kitchen, it not only makes it easier on the cooks but that much more hot and spicy for the diner!
Patio de Comida will take place on the last Saturday of the month in June, July and August this year. Each edition will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, June 27, it will feature La Nueva Dimension salsa band, entertainment by clown Payaso Champunpin, raffles, artisans and more.
