The Festas da Praia begin on August 4.

Jornal da Praia spoke with Judite Parreira, Artistic Director of Festas Praia 2023, who oversees the Opening Parade, the Children’s Parade, and the Marcha. 

Jornal da Praia – “From golden wheat to iron birds.” Why this theme?

Judite Parreira – The theme recognizes what is ours. The Festas da Praia are a showcase where we expose what we have and what we are … and we also have History, and our History is rich! When I was invited to be the artistic director of Festas da Praia 2023 and took on this role, I thought of a theme that was ours and, more than ever, a leitmotif related to our History. From the Settlement through the Liberal Struggles, I wanted a more recent topic to connect people and involve them more. I ended up focusing on the History of Ramo Grande, the island’s granary, and its economic importance, then the wheat field’s transformation into an airfield which this year turns 80, contributing to my choice. With the arrival of the British, at the time, this transformation was a concern for the locals afraid of losing the bread that gave in the wheat fields and Vitorino Nemésio himself, a man with vision, but who in the poem “Cantigas ao Campo das Lajes” says that “Cement does not give target bread,” he also had doubts in the construction of the runway. Two years later, the Americans came, and the cement gave more bread. Hence the theme “From golden wheat to iron birds” is chosen.

The highlights of the Praia Festivities are its parades, namely the opening parade and the children’s parade, which bring the city of Praia da Vitória to a considerable audience. Is the theme expressed in the opening parade?

Yes, it will be. The construction of the floats is already at a very advanced stage. The opening parade is on August 5. There are four floats. The first three refer to this part of History, and the fourth float “is a step further” because we have to think about the future and the potential of the base, not forgetting, also, our bay because it is necessary to return to the sea, create new valences to enhance our bay. And we have young people with a lot of talent who will return to give Praia the dimension it has had in the past because I recognize that Praia will be what the praienses want.

The opening procession has about 90 elements, and the children’s 40. The night of the marches will be on the 11th, and the official marcha, also under the theme “From golden wheat to iron birds,” opens the opening procession on August 5. The lyrics for the Marcha are by José Esteves. The music is by Gualter Silva, and the costumes are by Meneses Brans: everyone involved has an excellent grasp of the concept.

In addition to the opening parade, we will have the children’s parade. The children’s parade theme is “Tell Me a Tale” this year. Children are the future of Praia, and they must dream and imagine.

The children’s parade will be on August 10, the holiday’s eve. 

How are the preparations going?

This year, given the financial constraints that the City Council is going through, we started later. There were questions as if the Festas were going to happen. What would be the size of the Festas if they were in the same molds, and many other issues, so we had to start later. The workers are busier, and finding seamstresses was challenging, but I believe everything will be in place on the day of the Festas!

As far as the opening parade is concerned, no one does anything alone, and I have a team willing to work alongside me so that the parade goes off with the usual dignity. I have to highlight here the creative spirit of the opening parade, which is João Pedro Andrade’s artistry, but then there is a whole team that spares no effort to make the parade and the festivities in general happen.

Prof. Judite is a person who has dedicated her life to cultural dynamization in the municipality and on Terceira Island. Will that experience be applied to this year’s festivities?

I believe so. We are what we bring with us, our cultural awareness. And so all these aspects that I went through are present in me and will help me now to compose my functions better, what I have to do.

What message do you leave to those who want to visit Praia da Vitória these days?

We will have beautiful days. Praia da Vitória will be decked out as it always is every year when it gets beautiful for its festivities—the framing of our bay with light and color. People are on vacation, in good spirits, and inclined to have a good time. These are necessary ingredients for the Festas to go well, and I believe it will go well. I hope that people will come in large numbers. I know that many emigrants on the island and tourists visit us at this time because August is a month of excellence for vacationing in Portugal and throughout Europe.

Interview by: Rui Marques/JP

Photo of Judite Parreira by: João Costa/JP

In Jornal da Praia newspaper, Sebastião Lima-director and assistant director Carla Félix.  

It was translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Medial Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno.