A Queen and Her Court, Bands and Lots of Sopa: Celebrating Feast of the Holy Ghost in Style
Parade stopped at the steps of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.
Parade stopped at the steps of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.
Portuguese spirit on display.
Portuguese spirit on display.
Marching band set the beat as parade wound through Oak Bluffs.
Marching band set the beat as parade wound through Oak Bluffs.
Members of the police and fire departments participated in annual parade.
Members of the police and fire departments participated in annual parade.
Mckensi Jackson carries crown of Isabella with her court, Izabella Blake, Emily Freman, Delilah Oliver, Sofia McGroarty-Sampaio, Kaio Pereira and Ian Neil Estrella. Father Augustine Bangalie looks on.
Mckensi Jackson carries crown of Isabella with her court, Izabella Blake, Emily Freman, Delilah Oliver, Sofia McGroarty-Sampaio, Kaio Pereira and Ian Neil Estrella. Father Augustine Bangalie looks on.
Queen Mckensi Jackson carries the crown of Isabella, accompanied by Delilah Oliver and Emily Freeman.
Queen Mckensi Jackson carries the crown of Isabella, accompanied by Delilah Oliver and Emily Freeman.
Clothed in wool on a hot day, the Grupo Folclorico took no breaks.
Clothed in wool on a hot day, the Grupo Folclorico took no breaks.
The annual Feast of the Holy Ghost parade, steeped in Portuguese tradition, wound through downtown Oak Bluffs on a sweltering day Sunday. Mckensi Jackson, 8, carried the crown of Isabella along with her court as the Grupo Folclorico do Clube Madeirense, traditional Portuguese dancers and musicians, marched along playing brinquinhos, an instrument made of wooden dolls in costumes with castanets attached to their backs. Spectators waved and scrambled for candy tossed from cars. Back at the Portuguese American Club, people ate bowls of simmering sopa, 500 gallons of which was on hand during the weekend.
There was face painting, games, and an auction with goods including lobsters and Portuguese sweet bread up for the bidding. The Feast of the Holy Ghost honors the charitable spirit of Queen Isabella of Aragon; the Portuguese American Club raises money for various causes and awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships this year.