Mark your calendar for one of the best things to do in summer 2025: experience New Bedford’s Feast of the Blessed Sacrament in New Bedford, Massachusetts on a fun-filled day trip from Boston. This iconic celebration is the largest Portuguese festival in the world, combining culture & heritage with food and Madeira wine. For the first time ever, you can experience The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament with ease through Keolis massAdventures. This perfect weekend adventure includes round-trip transportation from Boston (no need to worry about traffic or parking) and a $20 voucher to use toward delicious food and drinks at The Feast.
What is the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament?
The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is a beloved annual tradition held in New Bedford, Massachusetts, every summer. Put on by members of the Club Madeirense S.S. Sacramento, volunteers and members of the New Bedford community, this is one of the biggest cultural festivals near Boston. It began in 1915, when a group of Portuguese immigrants from the region of Madeira decided to recreate the religious festivals from their homeland. This gathering would help to preserve their culture and bring their community together. It also celebrated their safe passage from Portugal to America. What started as a small, local religious event for family and friends, has grown into a four-day festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world every year.
Now celebrating its 109th Feast, the dazzling celebration of Portuguese heritage is one of the most unique things to do in Massachusetts. It’s not only a cultural and religious event – it’s a full-blown party. Packed with parades, cultural music & dancing, delicious traditional food, Madeira wine, and activities that highlight the rich traditions of the Portuguese-American community, there’s fun for all ages. During the festival, you can also visit the Museum of Madeiran Heritage for free. Dive into the culture and heritage of Madeiran immigrants who have made the United States their home.
When is the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament: The 109th Feast Celebration Details
The 2025 Feast of the Blessed Sacrament takes place Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 3 at Madeira Field in New Bedford. This convenient location is easily accessible via the Commuter Rail Fall River/New Bedford line and thanks to Keolis massAdventures, you can enjoy one of the best and most exciting summer day trips from Boston!
Why take the train? Parking near the Feast is notoriously limited. With Keolis massAdventures, your round-trip journey is covered, from the train to shuttle service to and from the Feast, you’ll arrive stress-free and ready to feast!
Why You Need to Add it to Your Summer Bucket List
If you’re looking for fun things to do with friends, things to do for couples this summer, or a one day trip from Boston everyone will certainly find something they like at The Feast. For those who live in the communities along the Fall River/New Bedford line (Middleborough, Lakeville, Taunton, etc.) who want to attend the Feast without dealing with the traffic and parking hassle, this is the day trip for you! Here’s what you can expect at the Feast:
Cultural Performances:
Watch as dancers in colorful red and white outfits whirl across the stage in traditional Portuguese folk dances and performances that celebrate the heritage of Madeira Island.
Food & Drink:
Mouth-watering menus await! Favorites such as linguiça, caçoila, or bifana sandwiches, carne de espeto (a traditional beef skewer), pasteis de Nata (custard pastry) and of course, Madeira wine beckon your taste buds. Authentic Madeira wine is made on the island of Madeira, with strict limits on the exportation of it. Due to an agreement with the President of Madeira, The Feast is allowed to import and sell the delicious, world-renowned drink.
Live Music:
Enjoy concerts all weekend long from over 50 musical artists across five different stages. From traditional Portuguese fado to pop, rock, and international artists, the lineup will satisfy all different music tastes! These concerts are all free!
Museum & Cultural Tent:
Learn about the Portuguese community’s history and contributions in New Bedford at the Museum of Madeiran Heritage. Visitors can discover the story of Madeiran immigration to the United States through photographs and artifacts. The Club Madeirense S.S. Sacramento hosts this unique museum, which is the only one of its kind in the United States.
Family Day:
Saturday, August 2nd is Walgreens Family Day. This year Family Day will be bigger and better than ever! Don’t miss out on special entertainment and activities for the whole family.
Amusement Rides:
Carnival-style amusements make this event fun for the kids and kids-at-heart. Ride to the top of the ferris wheel, spin on a midway ride, or make your way through the fun house. Try your luck at one of the various booths’ games, shooting baskets, tossing darts to pop balloons, or race against friends in an epic water gun game.
Parade:
The Feast celebrates its last day (Sunday) with the largest parade on the Southcoast. With colorful parade floats, lively community organizations, folkloric dancers, and marching bands whose music brings the city to life, the parade kicks off the day of fun with major celebratory vibes.
Eat, Drink & Be Merry
Let’s be honest, they don’t call it ‘The Feast’ for nothing – the food and Madeira wine are the main attractions for many visitors. From warm, savory dishes to sweet bites and refreshing wine, you’ll want to sample almost everything! Your Keolis massAdventures experience includes a $20 voucher to use towards any food or drink from any of The Feast’s vendors.
Here are 6 of the best foods of The Feast that you don’t want to miss:
- Linguiça, caçoila, or bifana sandwiches: Go-to favorites for a reason! These spicy linguiça, comforting beef caçoila or marinated pork bifana sandwiches are served in delicious crusty Portuguese rolls.
- Pasteis de Nata: Mouthwatering Portuguese custard tart with crispy and flaky layers of pastry surrounding the creamy custard filling. Loved world-wide, this custard tart has the #15 spot on The Guardian’s “50 Best Things to Eat in the World”. Served warm or cold, these pastries will transport you to a cafe in Portugal on a warm and breezy afternoon, sampling freshly made treats with a loved one. Flavor choices range from traditional lemon and cinnamon to sweet strawberry, rich dark chocolate, passion fruit, nutella, or even matcha!
- Carne de espeto: The one-of-a-kind, 40-foot fire pit is perfect for cooking these traditional beef skewers. Loaded with enough marinated meat to fill you up – we recommend you split it with a family member or friend. (So you can save room for more delectable dishes!)
- Pasteis de Bacalau: These dried and salted codfish cakes are formed into small ball-like fritters and deep fried until delicious!
- Milho Frito: A traditional Madeiran side dish made of cornmeal, finely shredded kale, and garlic. These cubes of Portuguese goodness are fried until golden brown and delicious. Traditionally served alongside an entree, they’re perfect for eating as you walk around The Feast.
- Malasada: Portuguese fried dough dusted with sugar and served hot, a perfect dessert to cap off your night.
Don’t Miss the Madeira Wine!
One of the biggest reasons people return to New Bedford’s Feast of the Blessed Sacrament year after year: the wine. As part of a special agreement with the President of Madeira, The Feast imports Madeira wine directly from the island. Madeira wine has a long and fascinating history. Produced on the island of Madeira, the fortified wine became popular in the 18th century for its ability to withstand long sea voyages. Its distinctive flavor comes from heat and oxidization during the aging process, resulting in a rich, caramelized taste that’s unlike any other wine in the world. At The Feast, you’ll have the rare opportunity to be able to try traditional Madeira wine!
Make Your Visit to New Bedford’s Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Easy with Keolis massAdventures
This year, skip the stress of traffic and parking at New Bedford’s Portuguese Feast. Keolis massAdventures has partnered together with The Feast to provide a smooth and scenic ride from Boston to The Feast via South Coast Rail (also known as the Commuter Rail Fall River/New Bedford line). Our Boston summer day trips are curated to help you enjoy one-of-a-kind cultural experiences, hidden gems, and other events across Massachusetts without needing a car. Your New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Special Event Ticket with Keolis massAdventures includes:
- Round-trip transportation from Boston to New Bedford.
- Pro Tip: if you live in Bridgewater, Middleborough, Taunton, or anywhere else along the Fall River/New Bedford line and want to skip the headache of trying to find somewhere to park near the Feast – this is a great option for you to park at your local station, hop aboard the Commuter Rail and enjoy the Feast stress-free with us!
- Shuttle service from the New Bedford Church Street Station to the Feast
- A $20 Food & Drink Voucher – applicable on everything at The Feast, even Madeira wine for those age 21+
- The ultimate summer experience, all pre-arranged and hassle-free!
Whether you’re a foodie, cultural explorer, music lover, or you’re just looking for an unforgettable weekend adventure, The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament undoubtedly offers a day packed with flavor, culture, and fun. As the United States’ oldest and largest Portuguese festival, this iconic Massachusetts tradition deserves a spot on your summer bucket list!
Book Your Feast Adventure Today
New Bedford’s Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is one of the most anticipated day trips from Boston for summer 2025. Grab your appetite, friends or family, and sense of adventure and make it a summer day trip to remember! Spots are limited and the Early Bird Pricing will increase on July 7th. Visit our website today to reserve your ticket to experience one of the best things to do in this summer! Ready to dive into the culture, food, and fun? Let Keolis massAdventures turn your day trip from Boston into a celebration you won’t forget.
