The festivities in the town of Lajes, which annually close the cycle of summer festivities in Terceira, occur between next Saturday and October 7th, under the theme “Lajes, Queen of the Millennium.”
On the first day, the festivities, in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, have as their highlight the opening procession, which takes place at 22:15. On the same day, there will also be a 21-mortar salute (8.30pm), the official opening of “Rosarinhas” 2023, with a speech by the president of the parish council (9pm), the parade of the Lajes philharmonics, Progresso and Recreio Lajense (9.15pm), the parade of the Official March of Vila das Lajes, entitled “Foi nas Lajes que nos vimos! ” (21h45), the 2023 Lajes Village Parade (22h00), a tribute to Our Lady of the Rosary and a bonfire (23h30).
The program for Sunday, October 1, includes a solemn mass (16h00) and a procession in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Michael the Archangel (17h00). In the evening, there will be a parade of Lajes institutions, groups, and associations (21h30) and performances by the Progresso e Recreio Lajense Philharmonic and the Cantares da Eira Folklore Group in the church square (22h30).


On Monday the 2nd, there’s an excursion to Rego Botelho’s tentadeiro (the place where bulls are separated for the festa) (10h00), a bullfight (017h00), and singing with Fábio Ourique, José Eliseu, José Esteves, Samuel Borges, Paulo Francisco Miranda, Ricardo Martins, Samuel Martins and Roberto Toledo, in the church square (21h30).
On Tuesday, the 3rd, there will be parades by the Lajes Philharmonic (12h00), the Official Lajes March (12h30), and the Lajes 2023 Parade (12h45), followed by the Bodo de Leite, under the theme “RTP’s Entertainment” (13h00). There’s also a bullfight (17h00), street entertainment (21h00), and performances by Fala Quem Sabe (21h30) and Francisco Ourique (23h30), in the church square.
On Wednesday 4th, there’s an excursion to Tentadeiro da Florestal (10h00), a bullfight by the rope (17h00), street entertainment (21h00), and performances by the band DNA (22h30) and DJ Ulisses (01h00), in the church square.
On Thursday 5th, there will be an excursion to Tentadeiro da Florestal (10h00), a bullfight by the rope (17h00), a biker parade (21h30), and a performance by the Uzhoms (22h30) in the church square.


On Friday 6th, there will be a children’s gathering in the public garden (16h00), an excursion to the Arraial (16h15), a calf fry for children (17H00), entertainment, with face painting and balloons (21h00), a children’s parade (21h30) and performances by Professor Idalécio (22h30) and DJ Artur M (00h00), in the church square.
On Saturday the 7th, there will be an excursion to the Tentadeiro da Florestal (10h00), a bullfight (17h00), street entertainment (21h00), and a performance by Oitentamente – an 80s tribute band, in the church square (22h00), with “Rosairinhas” 2023 ending at 00h00 with fireworks.

Verbenas
Meanwhile, between Friday and October 7th, starting at 10 p.m., the Lajes Town Festivities will be held.
On Friday, Quim das Remisturas, DJ Rodrigo, and BrothersonDish B2B Simon R will perform, while on Saturday, the entertainment will be provided by Pete ThaZouk, Rod’Ávila and Mary Jane B2B Andreia do Ó. On October 2nd, RandomKidz and Samira perform, and on October 4th, Pedro Alves and Groove Boyz. Carlos Fauvrelle, Souza, and Gaspar are scheduled to perform on the 6th. Finally, on the 7th, dedicated to the 2000s, Cali Flow 212, Lancelot and Adrix perform.

And so, with this Festa, the cycle of the summer Festas ends on the island of Terceira, known as one of the most socially active islands in the Azores. Many thousands of visitors, especially second and third generation of Azoreans with ties to Terceira Island, take the vacation around the Festa of the village or parish where their relatives originated from.

In Diário Insular newspaper, from Terceira Island, José Lourenço-director

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 Media Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno.