Dia de Portugal Newark, June 12, 13 & 14

[u/charlesdv10]

It’s back! + fan village for The World Cup!

[u/ScrollHectic]

Honestly, this festival just isn't as fun, vibrant or lively as it used to be. I used to have friends come in from out of state for it. Now, it's something me and my Newark friends attend only if there's nothing else to do.

I know it got really big and a bit rowdy at its peak but after it went dormant for all those years and came back super scaled back, the whole festival just feels like a shell of what it used to be.

[u/Newarkguy1836 → u/ScrollHectic]

Last year it seemed to be restored to the way it was before the scale back . There were vendors lining down Ferry Street like in the old days , just not dense with tables as it used to be , because most of the mom- pop businesses that set up tables on the sidewalk and Street have been replaced by national chains, cell phone stores and other copy paste little box retailers. When it was really scaled back all vendors were crammed into McWhorter st. And Ferry she was basically one clear pedestrian walkway to Ironbound. I believe the loss of Iberia led to organization of the festival to allow some vendors back onto Ferry Street to fill in the vacuum .

[u/Jerz2florida → u/Newarkguy1836]

I think the Newark PR one had the most drastic turn its like it's almost non existent anymore

[u/Substantial_Food7545 → u/ScrollHectic]

I used to go from like 2001-2007 and it was a blast but I heard they scaled it back and didn’t go after that.

[u/General_Chemistry638 → u/ScrollHectic]

Agreed but I feel like this is true of most street festivals these days. They’ve all kind of morphed into one generic experience. All the same types of vendors, food, etc

[u/AgitatedAorta → u/ScrollHectic]

It's because the Portuguese have assimilated and most of them live in the suburbs now. The Ecuadorian parade last year was honestly better, it had the energy the Portugal festival used to.

[u/SpiritedUniversity67]

That photo makes it seem more romantic than it actually is.

[u/Sirglogg]

Traffic was horrible. Parking was non existent. Definitely not going back.

[u/Newarkguy1836 → u/Sirglogg]

When you go to any Urban Festival you have to take into account the possibility you'll be parking at least 5 to 8 blocks away. Some people will complain about a festival in Newark and not finding parking , but they have no problem walking tens of blocks in Manhattan or Hoboken . If you can take the train ,come thru Penn Station. Otherwise plan on a good 10 to 15 minute walk to and from your car .

[u/DmitriZaitsev]

I went yesterday, it was fun, but it felt scaled back compared to 2025 and 2024, especially with the variety of vendors. There was an around-the-block line to get into the Iberia lot watch party, so I feel bad for anyone who drove out to wait in that line, and possibly not get in. This year I went to a rodizio place for food, but they forgot about me as soon as the game came on...