The Great Feast of the Holy Ghost parade this year featured an appearance by Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick on August 23, 2008, just before he left for the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Inspired by her Majesty Queen Isabel of Portugal and founded locally by Heitor Sousa, the event held on the last weekend of every August at Kennedy Park is celebrating its 22nd anniversary. It is considered the largest Azorean celebration in the world with more than 200,000 people in attendance each year. Distribution of food to the poor is a main part of the celebration and goes back to a tradition in honor of Queen Isabel, who in the 13th century gave food to peasants without her husband's knowledge. The ethnographic parade, "Bodo de Leite", kicked off in Fall River at 10:30 a.m. from Ponta Delgada Boulevard and then went up Columbia Street to South Main Street and concluded at Kennedy Park. The lively procession included bands, folkloric groups, floats and colorful representations of life in the Azores. Once the trek was completed, hundreds of sweet breads were cut up and distributed to the crowd, along with more than 200 gallons of milk.
 

(Top row, left) A grandfather readies his grandson for the march in the parade. (Top row, center)  President of the Regional Government of Azores, Carlos César, Governor Duval Patrick, Congressman James McGovern and Mayor Robert Correia greet the crowd as they walk up Ponta Delgada Boulevard from the Gates of the City. (Top row, right) Members of the color guard lead the parade.