The Municipal Auditorium of Velas once again proved too small for the spirit it was meant to hold, as another edition of the traditional Bailinhos de Carnaval filled the space with laughter, music, satire, and applause. Organized by the Municipality of Velas in partnership with the Cultural Association of Velas, the evening formed part of the Municipality’s Cultural Agenda—yet it felt less like a scheduled event and more like a communal ritual.

Participants from several parishes gathered alongside residents of all ages for a night shaped by joy and spirited performance. Carnival in São Jorge is never merely spectacle; it is commentary, community, and continuity stitched together in verse and melody.

On the night of February 15, four groups took to the stage. The Bailinho do Município de Velas, composed of fifteen performers, presented “The School of Teacher Elgina Velense,” blending humor with familiar local echoes. The Bailinho de Norte Grande, with thirty-one participants, offered “Blessed Be the Hour of the Visit,” a lively reflection on encounters both expected and unforeseen. The Bailinho da Casa do Povo dos Rosais, thirty-two strong, brought to life “Miss International Pageant,” while the Bailinho da Casa do Povo de Santo Amaro, with twenty-seven performers, staged the irreverent and comedic “The Exchange of Priests.”

The Municipality of Velas extends its gratitude to all who participated and dedicated themselves to this celebration. Their commitment made possible another night of animation and reaffirmed the cultural vitality of the municipality—proving once more that in Carnival season, the island’s voice is larger than any auditorium that seeks to contain it.

From Press Release

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.