NEWARK - Those who wish to take part in this year's Portugal Day events now through June 13 - as unveiled during City Hall's June 5 flag raising ceremony - will see both new and familiar elements from previous celebrations.

For example, the annual parade will march west on Ferry Street from Magazine Street to Peter Francisco Park by Penn Station on June 13 at 3 p.m. Portuguese Continental Credit Union founder Manuel Parente will be this year's grand marshal.



The Den of Lions will bring back the Portugal Day 5 km or 1-Mile Run on June 13 at 9 a.m. from the Iberia Restaurant parking lot at 82-84 Ferry St. There will also be a bicycle run sponsored by the Union of Portuguese American Clubs of New Jersey, which is scheduled for June 12 at 9 a.m.

The annual art exposition at the Portuguese Sport Club debuted June 7 and a thanksgiving Mass, this time at the Sacred Heart Basilica, was celebrated June 9.

Meanwhile, several East Ward restaurants will host food exhibitions.

However, there will no longer be a seven- to 10- day-long street fair that has been the keystone to the previous 30 Newark Portugal Days.

That is the schedule that has been pulled together from several sources who are also sponsors or underwriters of this year's festivities.

UCLANJ President Fernando Grilo explained that the 14-club coalition decided to organize this year's celebration after the Bernardino Coutinho Foundation decided on April 27 not to hold a 30th Portugal Day.

Bernardino Coutinho, in his May 4 interview with Local Talk, cited the increasing cost and volume of city permits for cancelling his Portugal Day 2010. Although in the past the 10-day festival has attracted 500,000 people, giving The Ironbound, Newark and neighboring towns a $1 million boost, Coutinho said mounting regulations have cost him $160,000 in 2008 to 2009.

Portuguese Counsel General Dr. Maria Amelia Pavia noted that Newark's Portugal Day, held on or around June 10, is the largest Portuguese- American celebration in the world.

"I'm proud for being three things," said Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Campos. "First, I'm proud to be a native of the greatest city in the greatest country in the world. Second, I'm proud to have been the first Portuguese American chief of the greatest police force in America - Armando beat me in becoming the first Portuguese American police captain. Third, I'm proud to be the son of Portuguese American parents."