Confetti flies as the arm of the Our Lady of Angels statue catches the wreath that was hanging on a wire across the driveway on Monday, 9/6/21, as they head to Main Street in Fairhaven for a procession as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
The annual Our Lady of Angels Feast returned to North Fairhaven this weekend after being canceled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The traditional Portuguese “festa” features live music, game booths, Portugese and American foods, auctions and activities for children.
Vendors and organizers of “the Biggest Little Feast” said it was well attended, with the first night being very packed, Sunday a little less so, due to iffy weather and some rain, and Sunday packed again.
The procession on Monday was well attended with lots of people lining Main Street to watch the OLOA statue as it was carried in the street from St. Mary’s Church to Benoit Square and back.
This year the statue had two extra money wreaths. One in memory of Marguerite Canastra and one in memory of Gerry Nicolai. And, of course, the big wreath that hung across the driveway that the statue carriers plucked off the wire with the arm of the statue.
The malasada line was, as usual, the longest line on Monday after the procession.
Wayne Costa said he had no problem waiting in line for malasadas, fully expecting them to be worth the wait. He said he attended the last one (two years ago) and “it was so good.”
His family also got the clam cakes and other food, splitting up to wait i the various lines.
Originally from Fall River, Mr. Costa said he has attended the “last few” OLOA feasts, and has friends who live in the neighborhood.
Madeline Bettencourt and Olga Figueira also decided the long wait, it could be up to 45 minutes, was worth it for the malasadas.
“I’m so glad they did it this year, it’s nice,” said Ms. Bettencourt, adding that she works at the Madeira feast in New Bedford. “I love it. It’s all about meeting people you haven’t seen in awhile, getting out, and helping the church, just having a good time.”
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- A young girl marches in the procession, a right of passage for many families, on Monday, 9/6/21, along Main Street in Fairhaven as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Glenn C. Silva for the Fairhaven Neighborhood News.
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- A young girl marches in the procession, a right of passage for many families, on Monday, 9/6/21, along Main Street in Fairhaven as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Glenn C. Silva for the Fairhaven Neighborhood News.
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- A young girl marches in the procession, a right of passage for many families, on Monday, 9/6/21, along Main Street in Fairhaven as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Glenn C. Silva for the Fairhaven Neighborhood News.
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- A happy group waves to the camera as they sit at a house on Main Street in Fairhaven watching the procession on Monday, 9/6/21, part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Glenn C. Silva for the Fairhaven Neighborhood News.
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- Officers of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association march in the procession on Monday, 9/6/21, along Main Street in Fairhaven as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year. Photo by Glenn C. Silva for the Fairhaven Neighborhood News.
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- The statue of Our Lady of Angels is carried in the procession along Main Street in Fairhaven on Monday, 9/6/21, as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year. Photo by Glenn C. Silva for the Fairhaven Neighborhood News.
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- The 800-pound Our Lady of Angels statue is carried down Main Street in Fairhaven on Monday, 9/6/21, in the procession as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Beth David.
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- A smaller version of the Our Lady of Angels statue, complete with money wreath, is carried down Main Street in Fairhaven on Monday, 9/6/21, in the procession as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Beth David.
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- We honestly don’t know if there even IS a Portuguese Mafia, but these guys sure look the part as they watch the procession on Monday, 9/6/21, on Main Street in Fairhaven as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Beth David.
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- Volunteers make the malasadas, a feast favorite, on Monday, 9/6/21, during the Our Lady of Angels Feast in Fairhaven, a traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year. Photo by Beth David.
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- Volunteers make the malasadas, a feast favorite, on Monday, 9/6/21, during the Our Lady of Angels Feast in Fairhaven, a traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year. Photo by Beth David.
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- The Fairhaven Lions Club marches in honor of the late Bob Parent, and included photos of him on their banner, on Monday, 9/6/21, during the procession of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Beth David.
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- Volunteers working the kitchen take a minute to pose for the local free sheet in the downstairs dining room on Monday, 9/6/21, during the Our Lady of Angels Feast in Fairhaven, a traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year. Photo by Beth David.
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- Volunteers working the kitchen take a minute to pose for the local free sheet in the downstairs dining room on Monday, 9/6/21, during the Our Lady of Angels Feast in Fairhaven, a traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year. Photo by Beth David.
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- Confetti flies as the arm of the Our Lady of Angels statue catches the wreath that was hanging on a wire across the driveway on Monday, 9/6/21, as they head to Main Street in Fairhaven for a procession as part of the annual traditional Portuguese feast held on Labor Day weekend each year and sponsored by Our Lady of Angels Catholic Association. Photo by Beth David.
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