The Holy Ghost Festival of New England will be held in Kennedy Park in Fall River, Massachusetts, from August 26–30. Former Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to visit Fall River as a guest of honor for the 40th-anniversary festival celebration, according to reports.
Although Rebelo de Sousa’s participation is still awaiting official confirmation, his presence would be a major attraction at this year’s festivities and one of his most notable appearances before the Portuguese-American community since leaving office in 2026.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
His attendance would carry particular significance because he would return to Fall River as a former head of state after completing 10 years as president of Portugal.
Rebelo de Sousa has maintained strong ties with Portuguese communities abroad and visited Fall River in June 2018 while serving as president (2016-2026).
The Grandes Festas do Divino Espírito Santo da Nova Inglaterra were established in Fall River in 1986, becoming one of the largest ethnic festivals of New England and one of the largest Portuguese celebrations worldwide.
The annual festivities attract thousands of Portuguese Americans and other visitors from throughout New England, as well as participants from Canada, the Azores and elsewhere. Organizers have estimated attendance over the course of the festivities at more than 100,000 people.
The five-day celebration combines religious traditions with cultural and secular entertainment. Visitors can enjoy Portuguese food, including Holy Ghost sopas, malassadas, chouriço, and other specialties, as well as live music, folklore performances, exhibits, and cultural displays celebrating the heritage of the Portuguese-American community of Azorean descent.
At the heart of the festivities is the centuries-old devotion to the Divine Holy Spirit, a tradition deeply rooted in the Azores and carried throughout the Portuguese diaspora. The tradition emphasizes charity, equality, hospitality, and the sharing of food. Among the most important traditions is the communal Holy Ghost meal, or função, during which the traditional sopas do Espírito Santo are served to the public free of charge.
One of the most colorful events is the traditional Bodo de Leite, scheduled for Saturday, August 29. The ethnographic parade proceeds from Fall River’s Gates of the City along Columbia Street and South Main Street toward Kennedy Park. Organizers distribute sweet bread and other offerings to community members in honor of the Divine Holy Spirit.
According to the festival program, the celebration reaches its religious climax on Sunday with the Solemn Crowning Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral, followed by the Grand Coronation Procession through Fall River. Holy Ghost brotherhoods and delegations take part, carrying ornate crowns, banners, and religious symbols, accompanied by philharmonic bands and representatives of community organizations.
The Holy Ghost Festival is an old tradition celebrated in the nine islands of the Azores and also celebrated abroad by the Azorean diaspora. The tradition is based on the celebration of Pentecost, observed by the Catholic church, which marks the establishment of the Christian era.
In Portugal, the tradition originated in the 14th century with Queen Saint Isabel of Portugal (1271-1336). She was canonized as a Catholic saint in 1625 by Pope Urban VIII. Her feast day is July 8. She is celebrated as a peacemaker and for her devotion to the poor. She established orphanages and provided shelter for the homeless.
Fall River (MA), with a total population of 95,072, is home to one of the largest Portuguese American communities (43.9%) in the United States, the majority claiming Azorean origin, mostly from São Miguel Island.
All events directly associated with the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England are free and open to the public.
PAJ/Staff
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, born December 12, 1948, in Lisbon, served as the 20th President of the Portuguese Republic from March 9, 2016, to March 9, 2026. He was first elected president in January 2016 and won a second five-year term in 2021 with 60.7 percent of the vote.
Before becoming president, Rebelo de Sousa built a distinguished career in academia and public life. He earned a doctorate in Legal and Political Sciences and became a professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, and also a journalist and carreer politician.
A member of Portugal’s Constituent Assembly, participated in the development of the country’s democratic constitutional system, served as Secretary of State and later Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, and led the center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) from 1996 to 1999.
During his presidency, Rebelo de Sousa became known for his informal, highly personal style and frequent direct contact with citizens. After completing the constitutional limit of two consecutive terms, he was succeeded by António José Seguro on March 9, 2026.
