Community Corner

Mineola Portuguese Center Holds 2013 Festival

Estimated 2,000 residents attend weekend festival at Wilson Field.

Though rain washed away the initial day of the 29th annual Mineola Portuguese Center Festival, an estimated 2,000 people still attended the free event in the parking field of Wilson Park this past weekend according to Mineola Portuguese President Frank Teixeira.

The fair originally started in 1984 across the street from Corpus Christi Parochial School, with the Portuguese Center being asked to take over the operation after not enough volunteers could be found by the parish.

"And I said 'why not take a chance?'," Teixeira recalled, adding that there were about 40 volunteers at the fair this year to help operate the large food tent and provide entertainment.

The two-day festival included numerous rides, large amounts of food, musical acts and group dancing as well as a game from the Mineola Portuguese Soccer Club that saw them take the D1 Reserve crown.

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