Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Parade Will Be Nationally Televised for the First Time Ever

For the first time, the Feast Parade will receive national viewership.

Thanks to the efforts of Sociable!, the City of New Bedford, and the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, the 108^th Feast Parade will be broadcast nationally on the Cox Media Yurview network.

It’s a huge win for the city and its longstanding tradition of keeping Portuguese culture thriving.

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The Feast Parade Will Be Broadcasted Nationally

John Methia of Sociable! said he is thrilled to produce the broadcast of the Feast Parade, a tradition he has loved for years.

“I have been going to The Feast for as long as I can remember and I always thought it would make great television,” he said. “It’s been a big, group effort to make this happen.”

This is all about shining a light on one of New Bedford’s most beloved traditions, and for the first time, people across the country will be able to experience one of the nation’s oldest and largest Portuguese festivals.

“Bringing the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Parade to a national audience through this broadcast is a fantastic opportunity for New Bedford,” said Ashley Payne, director of Explore New Bedford, the City of New Bedford’s Office of Tourism and Marketing. “It allows us to share our city's rich cultural heritage and vibrant community with viewers across the country, highlighting New Bedford as a prime destination for cultural tourism.”

READ MORE: What It's Like to Try Madeira Wine for the First Time

How to Watch the Feast Parade Broadcast

Hosted by Phil Paleologos, the event will air on Cox Media’s Yurview channel, the Sociably! YouTube channel, The Feast’s Youtube channel and the Yurview website.

“We are also hoping to get it on the Portuguese Channel, as well,” Methia said.

The broadcast will air on Monday, August 5, and will feature two hours of the parade with educational spotlights throughout.

“There will be features about The Feast, the culture, Madeira and the City of New Bedford,” Methia said. “We want someone in Arizona or California to see this and say, ‘Wow, New Bedford is a cool city,’ and make plans to attend themselves.”

The broadcast will be an immersive experience, showcasing the floats, costumes and vibrant people that make the parade spectacular.

The 108th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament kicks off on Thursday, August 1, 6 p.m. Experience the parade live on Sunday at 2 p.m. during the 1-mile route from Brooklawn Park to the Feast grounds at Madeira Field.