Portuguese Festival Coming This Weekend

Mayor Cory A. Booker and Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio reminded residents and visitors today that the City of Newark seeks to ensure the safety of all persons attending the Annual Portuguese Parade and Festival by vigorously enforcing state laws and city ordinances on liquor sales and consumption during the celebrations.

The Portuguese Festival is being held on its traditional Ferry Street site this year and will take place from Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 9, from noon to 11 p.m. each day. As part of the activities, there will also be a 5K race on Ferry Street, which will take place on Sunday, June 9, at 8 a.m.

  The parade will step off on Sunday, June 9, at 3 p.m. and will march west on Ferry Street between Niagara Street and Penn Station. The parade grandstand will be located at the intersection of Ferry Street and Wilson Avenue.

The following streets will be closed according to the following schedule:

Closed from Friday, June 7, at Noon, until Sunday, June 9, at 11 p.m.:

·                     Ferry Street, from New Jersey Railroad Avenue to Union Street.

·                     Edison Place, from McCarter Highway to Ferry Street. (Note that taxicabs will be allowed on to Alling Street to access Penn Station)

·                     McWhorter Street from Ferry Street to Hamilton Street.

·                     Bruen Street from Ferry Street to Hamilton Street.

Closed on Sunday, June 9, between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., and again from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.:

·                     Ferry Street between St. Charles Street and Penn Station, during the foot race and parade.

“The annual Portuguese Festival is a great Newark tradition and a joyous time for everyone who participates in it,” Mayor Cory Booker said. “We do not want the illegal acts of a misguided few to ruin the experience for the majority of residents and visitors who enjoy our city’s hospitality, energy, and diversity. I urge everyone celebrating Portuguese culture this weekend to do so safely and to obey the law.”

Newark Police, Newark Fire, Alcohol Beverage Control, Code Enforcement, and other agencies will be enforcing all laws and ordinances during the weekend, and offenders will be prosecuted. A list of major rules and policies being enforced is attached.

“The Newark Police Department will be vigilant and will enforce all of our laws and ordinances this weekend, to ensure that our residents and visitors have a safe and enjoyable Portuguese Festival. I urge residents and visitors to use common sense and be safe at the festival,” said Police Director Samuel DeMaio.

Newark City Ordinances and State law ban the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 21, as well as to those who are intoxicated. Anyone purchasing alcohol at the festival must present proper identification. Vendors are prohibited from selling alcohol in glass bottles, open containers, or dispensing liquor in any backpacks. In addition, public drinking of alcohol on city streets remains banned. State law and City ordinances on open containers will be enforced. Alcohol sales must cease two hours before the festival’s closing time each night.

The City also bans the following items from the festival area: bicycles, large coolers, and exotic animals. No dogs are allowed except for small dogs that can be carried. In addition, the Newark Fire Department is reminding vendors and restaurant owners in the Ironbound that disposing of cooking oil on streets, storm drains, sidewalks, or sewers is illegal. Vendors and restaurant owners who do so will be charged with Unlawful Disposal of Hazardous Waste.

This year’s festival is sponsored by East Ward Council Member Augusto Amador and UCLAN (Uniāo dos Clubas Luso-Americano de New Jersey) President Fernando Grilo.