Filarmónica Portuguesa de Tulare, established in 1981, is in the Azores for the annual Sanjoaninas Festas, one of the largest festivals in the archipelago. It is held annually in Angra do Heroísmo, a historical city declared a world heritage town by UNESCO. Since 1966, it has had a sister city relationship with the City of Tulare in California’s San Joaquim Valley. It is the oldest Sister City program in the Azores and one of the oldest in Portugal. Tulare is one of the few sister city programs with an actual foundation. The Tulare-Angra Sister City Foundation was founded shortly after this People to People program was established.

On the opening day of the festivities, with thousands filling the streets of Angra, the Filarmónica Portuguesa de Tulare was the guest band to open the festivities. On June 23rd, the band will play for the official Sanjoaninas March and do a concert during the festivities and the traditional marching of all bands during the closing events. Every year, a different band from California represents the diaspora at the festival. This is Tulare’s second presence at the event. Lots of work, preparation, and expense go into this endeavor, and the Filarmónica Portuguesa de Tulare is to be congratulated for its commitment to these exchanges and its role in the Azorean Diaspora in California.

Pictures from VITEC broadcast and from Fernando Pavão.

You can watch many events of the Sanjoaninas Festas live on VITEC through their YouTube channel, Facebook Live. VITEC is a founding member of ADMA (Azorean Diaspora Media Alliance). Below is the recording of the opening ceremonies.