Going to the Madeira Feast? Ease the entry process by knowing the rules, NBPD says.
NEW BEDFORD — Expected to draw about 200,000 visitors this year, the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is well-known for attracting the largest crowds of any summer event in New Bedford. With public safety preparedness being especially paramount for an event of its scale, Feast organizer Steve Duarte isn't exaggerating when he calls it a "full year planning event."
"In fact, the Sunday night of the Feast is the first meeting of the following year's committee," said Duarte, director for the Feast Presenter's Committee and chair of the Museum of Madeiran Heritage.
"Every year, we begin security preparations with local, state, and if warranted, national agencies. We follow their lead and offer our experience in crowd flow on different days/nights."
While many aspects of the Feast, as a longstanding city tradition, remain the same year to year, Duarte says organizers are always mindful of adapting to changing times.
New year, new ideas
"Each year presents a different set of circumstances," he said, recalling being Feast president in 2017, the year a man intentionally drove his vehicle into the crowd at a Charlottesville, N.C. protest, killing one and injuring many others. "The discussion was how to deter/prevent such an event at the Feast."
That discussion resulted in organizers, in collaboration with first responders, adding to an already robust public safety plan.
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"We place bollards in strategic places as well as carnival, city and state trucks staged in a detailed plan," Duarte said, noting that the Feast Committee takes on expenses associated with the extensive system of public safety details in order to keep admission free for attendees.
This year's big changes
When the 107th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament kicks off on Thursday, the first change Feast goers are likely to notice will be right at the points of entry: metal detectors.
"If you go to a Red Sox game, or to Gillette or any music concert, the industry standard is to go through metal detectors," said New Bedford Police Captain Derek Belong, NBPD's Feast liaison this year and in 2022.
According to Belong, the idea was floated in discussions late in the planning stages for last year, and was met with open arms by the Feast Committee.
"We felt that the Feast is a large enough event that it should have those same industry standards and brought it to their attention," Belong said. "They were 100% on board."
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With this measure in place, Belong says even those licensed to carry should plan on leaving firearms at home.
Other rules to keep in mind
Aside from weapons of any kind, Belong said prohibited items also include the following: drones, animals, alcohol, illegal drugs, outside food/beverages, and fireworks.
Also to keep in mind: Belong says clear backpacks, clear ziplock bags, small purses, wristlets, medical bags and baby bags would be the only baggage permitted on the grounds, and are subject to search.
Belong said on Tuesday a full list of prohibited items and other rules would soon be posted to the New Bedford Police Department Facebook account.
Entering the Feast
This year, the four points of entry/metal detector checkpoints will be at: Hathaway Street/Hope Street, Earle Street/Madeira Avenue, Hathaway Street/Madeira Avenue, and on Tinkham Street between between Madeira Avenue and Hope Street, near the Club Madeirense SS Sacramento clubhouse.
Belong and New Bedford Police Lt. Scott Carola said Feast goers with any forbidden items will be turned away or made to discard the items before entering.
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"If people are aware of what they can come in with and what they can’t, that’s going to expedite the whole process for everybody," Carola said. "So we encourage people to familiarize themselves with that."
For fun's sake
While much of the work public safety personnel do around the Feast involves thinking of nightmarish what-ifs, in the end, it's so Feast goers don't have to while enjoying the food, drink, entertainment and rich cultural traditions of the event.
"There's a large contingent within this department that actually enjoy working that detail and look forward to it," said New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger, describing the Feast as "a busy four days" for firefighters. "You meet a lot of people, people are usually in a good mood. The entertainment is good, the food's good — it's good for the city."
“The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is one of America’s premier ethnic festivals which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world each year," said Mayor Jon Mitchell in an email, mentioning the months of work by city departments. "I am grateful for their preparation, teamwork, and attention to detail so that we can all enjoy this celebration of Madeiran culture.”
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If you go
Gates at the four entry points will open at 6 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. Friday, and 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Gates will close at 11:30 p.m. every night.
For more information on the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, visit www.feastoftheblessedsacramentcom.ning.com.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford first responders, Feast organizers prepared for anything
