On Saturday, a car caravan through downtown New Bedford will highlight this year’s celebration of Cape Verdean Independence Day.
Event organizers from the Cape Verdean Recognition Committee (CVRC) say the caravan will take the place of the traditional parade, due to COVID concerns. The group made the same switch last year.
Organizer Diane Gomes says the CVRC is encouraging participants to decorate their cars with Cape Verdean colors and will award prizes for the best representation of Cape Verdean spirit.
The caravan will depart New Bedford High School at 1 p.m. Saturday and wind through the city before arriving at the Cape Verdean American Veterans Memorial Hall at 561 Purchase Street. There, festivities will continue with music and food.
Cape Verde’s Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, will attend the celebration, according to event organizers. Correia e Silva previously visited New Bedford in 2017.
More than 50,000 people of Cape Verdean descent live in Massachusetts—more than any other state.
Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal on July 5th, 1975.
