6/14/2012 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- The Sanjoaninas Festival will be celebrated June 22 to 30 in the city of Angra do Heroismo. Dating back to the 16th century, this is the largest non-religious festival on Terceira and the Azores. However, the festival traces its history to a religious connection.
Sanjoaninas honors St. John the Baptist and is a legacy of a secular tradition which has evolved over the years and now includes parades, concerts, arena and street bullfights, expositions, sports activities as well as other cultural events. Below are the festival highlights for June 22 to 25:
June 22 9:45 p.m. - Parade by the two marching bands from Angra (main street) 10 p.m. - Opening parade of floats (main street)
11:30 p.m. - Concert by the Angra Jazz orchestra (stage next to the marina)
June 23 11 a.m. -Body Combat's Master Class (area next to the marina) 9 p.m. - Parade of St. John's marching groups (main street)
1 a.m. - Concert by Portuguese pop band "Contrabanda" (Bailhão parking lot)
June 24 10:30 a.m. - Soap box derby race (Canada Nova/top of main street) 1 p.m. - Running of the bulls (top of main street)
3 p.m. - Climbing wall and rappel demonstration (next to the marina) 6 p.m. - Arena bullfight in the Angra bullring
11 p.m. - Concert by Portuguese pop singer star "Paulo Gonzo" (Bailhão parking lot) 11:30 p.m. - Concert by local rock band "Rock,
Rhytm and Blues" (stage next to the marina)
June 25 6:30 p.m. - Arena bullfight in the Angra bullring 8 p.m. - Karate demonstration - Main square 9:30 p.m. - Ethnographic parade "A life's
day on Terceira Island" (main street) 11 p.m. - Concert by Portuguese pop singer "Mickael Carreira" (Bailhão parking lot)
