Freeport/Clarksburg Festa

06/09/2026

We are overwhelmed with gratitude and joy! 🕊️🙏🫶
This year's Festa has officially gone down in the record books as the most successful in our 133-year history, and in part, it is thanks to an incredibly generous, monumental act of kindness.

We want to extend our deepest, most heartfelt thank you to Jerry Balshor & Al Balshor Jr. for providing the largest donation our organization has ever received.

Your generosity didn't just support this year's event—it secured a vibrant future for our beloved tradition.

🌹 A Legacy of Beauty and Devotion
The Balshor name has been woven into the fabric of the Freeport Festa for generations. For many, many years, Al & Marie Balshor of Balshor’s Flowers brought pure magic to our celebration. Until the flower shop closed its doors, they graciously provided the stunning floral arrangements for the Freeport Festa Queens and their courts.

Year after year, their beautiful bouquets didn't just adorn our royalty; they brought a unique beauty and reverence to our capela, St. Joseph’s Church, our queens & their courts.

To the entire Balshor family: thank you for your decades of devotion, for the beauty you’ve brought to our Festa, and for this historic gift that ensures our heritage continues to bloom. 🌹

06/07/2026

133 years of faith, family, and tradition—and we couldn’t do it without YOU! 🇵🇹🕊️❤️

A massive, heartfelt THANK YOU to every single volunteer, donor, and supporter who showed up to make this year’s Freeport Festa an unforgettable success.

Keeping a 133-year-old tradition alive takes an entire village, and our community proved once again just how strong, dedicated, and full of heart we are.

From those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes preparing food and setting up, to everyone who joined us in celebration—your devotion to the Holy Spirit and to each other is what keeps this beautiful legacy thriving year after year.

Tradition isn't just about preserving the past; it's about keeping the spirit alive for the future.

We are so grateful for your hard work, your smiles, and your unwavering support. You are the heartbeat of the Freeport Festa! 🙏

06/06/2026

In Loving Memory of Frank (Butch) Azevedo

The Freeport Festa community is mourning the loss of a true pillar of our tradition, Frank (Butch) Azevedo. Butch was a longtime member, a fierce supporter, and a familiar face whose presence defined the very spirit of our annual celebration.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Butch passed away just days before Sunday’s Festa. Yet, even in the depths of their sudden grief, the Azevedo family showed us the true definition of devotion. Honoring a commitment Butch surely would have insisted upon, they made the drive to Hilmar to ensure that Festa attendees received their traditional sweetbread.

We extend our deepest condolences, love, and prayers to his beloved wife, Bev, and the entire Azevedo family. Butch will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in every Festa to come. 🇵🇹🕊️🫶🙏

06/02/2026

With gratitude we present more coverage of the 2026 Freeport Festa from KCRA 3 just in time for June’s Portuguese Heritage Month!

The 133rd Portuguese Festa brought music, pageantry, and centuries-old traditions to Clarksburg on Sunday.

06/02/2026

Thank you KCRA 3 for all of the great coverage, making this year one of our most successful Festas!! Looks like there will be a 134th Freeport Festa due to your coverage and the support of our donors!! 🫶🕊️

One of California’s longest-running cultural traditions is returning to the Sacramento River Delta this weekend as the 133rd Annual Freeport Portuguese Festa kicks off National Portuguese Heritage Mon...

05/30/2026

Meet Jim Souza… Freeport / Clarksburg Festa IDES Hall cook, cleaner, maintenance man, miracle worker and our chef! We need more Jim Souzas or at least more people to help Jim Souza. If you see him this weekend, give him a hug. But don’t hug him too hard. He hurt his back carrying the weight of the Freeport Festa.

The historic Portuguese Freeport/Clarksburg Festa is returning for its 133rd edition in the California Delta on Sunday.

05/12/2026

ICYMI - Recently the water pump broke at our Freeport / Clarksburg Festa IDES Hall leaving us without any running water just weeks before our annual Festa.

After some sleepless nights and prayers to the Holy Spirit, an angel stepped up to cover the cost to replace the water pump.

That angel is Roger Valine and the Valine Family. While he didn’t ask for recognition for his incredibly generous donation, we extend our deepest thanks to Roger & Marie Valine.

His support comes at a pivotal time for the IDES Portuguese Hall as we are just weeks away from our 133rd Annual Freeport Festa the weekend of May 30th & 31st.

Maintaining a tradition of this magnitude is truly a labor of love, and it is also a significant undertaking. Today, the average cost of hosting the Festa exceeds $25,000.

While the world around us changes, our commitment to our heritage remains steadfast. We are immensely proud of our 133-year history, yet like many, we have faced our share of struggles over the past couple of years.

It is no exaggeration to say that The Valine Family’s contribution brings us a profound sense of relief, renewed hope AND we now have running water!

Because of our supporters, we have been able to pour care back into our beloved hall—from repairing the Capella and installing new front doors to updating the electrical system and maintaining our park-like grounds.

When you donate, you aren't just donating to a fundraiser; you are ensuring a beautiful, safe home for our traditions to continue.

To donate please visit: https://freeportclarksburg-ides.square.site/

See you at Festa! 🕊️💧🇵🇹

05/11/2026

Yesterday was a lovely day celebrating our beautiful Portuguese culture and all the amazing moms at the Portuguese Holy Ghost Festa Lincoln CA A.P.D.E.S.! 🕊️🇵🇹

05/08/2026

Celebrate the tradition! 👑✨

We are absolutely thrilled to announce our 2026 Freeport Festa Senior Queen: Collette Anna Litwin!

Collette’s roots in our community run deep. As the daughter of dedicated Festa volunteer Michael Litwin, she carries forward a legacy of service and pride. Her family’s heritage traces back to the beautiful island of Terceira, Azores, and they have been an integral part of the Freeport Festa family since 1992.

Please join us in congratulating Collette as she represents our heritage and our heart this year!

We are overjoyed to introduce our 2026 Freeport Festa Junior Queen: Annabella Schiele!

Annabella is the daughter of Anna Consulo-Schiele and Christopher Schiele, and she carries a vibrant legacy of Portuguese pride. Her family’s story in California began three generations ago, when her ancestors made the journey from the islands of São Miguel and Pico.

We are so proud to have Annabella representing our youth and the enduring spirit of our heritage!

Our traditions live on through the grace and spirit of our next generation and through your support. Please join us at the Queen's Fundraising Dinner on Saturday, May 30th. Tickets available at: https://freeportclarksburg-ides.square.site/

01/13/2026

AI isn’t quite as smart as you’d think. It clearly doesn’t know how to spell Portuguese, no matter how many times I write “Portuguese.” 🤷🏻‍♀️

Here’s your analog reminder to SAVE THE DATE (5/31/26) for the 133rd Freeport Festa! 🇵🇹