Day 243 Onset Cape Verdean Festival 2013

The Onset Cape Verdean Festival will be held Saturday, August 10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Onset MA on Cape Cod.  .  There is no charge for the festival admission   and a $10 charge for parking. . The Onset Cape Verdean Festival is funded strictly through donations from major sponsors, community businesses and individual supporters of the festival, according to the festival website.

A free program is also provided with information on Cape Verde Islands, Cape Verdean history, music and food.

The Onset Cape Verdean Festival Association was formed in June 2003. A group of Cape Verdeans and Onset residents combined their efforts to organize a one-day “festival” that would capture the essence of the history, culture, music, traditions and food brought to this area by the immigrants of the Cape Verde Islands in the late 19th century, according to the website.

It’s been described as being like a big family reunion.

Many vendors also set up their booths for the day and sell Cape Verdean T-shirts, jewelry, art and items of interest.

There is a $10 parking fee but a free shuttle is provided for everyone to the festival area. Proceeds go toward festival expenses for police and Wareham Municipal Maintenance related to the parking areas.

The fundraising goal each year is to raise enough money to cover all the expenses related to this one-day festival. After all the expenses have been paid and a start-up fund established for the following year, excess funds are donated to scholarships and community and youth activities.

Rain date is Sunday August 11th