The 25th celebration of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost in Fall River, a tradition that goes back to the 13th Century when Queen Isabel donated her crown as a votive gift to The Holy Ghost begging for famine ravaging her country to stop, began on August 26, 2011. The impending Hurricane Irene, however, force the closing of the outdoor venues at Kennedy Park and the Gates of the City the next day. The event brought visitors of Portuguese heritage from as far away as California and Toronto, Canada, many of whom are staying with relatives in the Fall River Area. Parts of the event that were planned included a procession up Columbia Street on Saturday morning and a Solemn Mass and coronation at Saint Anne's Church on Sunday, but both were put off due to the rain from the advancing hurricane. Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for a short video of the event.

(Top row, left) Duarte Viveiros and Tony Furtado grill some chicken for later sale. (Top row, center) The Lisa Nossa Senhora da Estrela band from San Miguel entertains the crowd. (Top row, right) Eduardo Goveia of San Miguel demonstrates his pottery skills. (Row two, left) Fall River resident Donald Pacheco attends the Feast every year in memory of his Grandparents from San Miguel. (Row two, center and right) Parcels containing a massa, (sweet bread), five-pound packets of meat, and a loaf of bread will be distributed to the needy after being blessed by D. António Sousa Braga, Bishop of the Azores. (Row three, left) Senator Claudio Almeida of the Acores talks with constituents in the United States who are eligible voters in elections on the islands. (Row three, center) Fall River businessman Fernando Garcia chats with friends at the Feast. (Row three, right) Children enjoy a bubble machine and toys with flashing lights. (Bottom row, left and center) Traditional Follies, "Folia da Santissima Trindade", from Bristol, R.I., perform for the crowd. (Bottom row, right) Seven-year-old Nathan Rosa drinks a soda at the back of the soda truck.