Alegria will kick off on June 2 at the Bristol Maritime Center with a group of Azorean artisans, here in the United States for several weeks on the invitation of Roberto Medeiros, Azorean Cultural Coordinator. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., admission is free, and the artisans will demonstrate their crafts and sell their creations. A variety of Portuguese food will be offered for sale, courtesy of the St. Elizabeth Church feast committee.

The artisans will include Alcídio Andrade, who is one of the three basketers of the Vila de Água de Pau, municipality of Lagoa, in the island of S. Miguel, who creates traditional and contemporary art in wicker; Eduardo Gouveia, a ceramic artist who is the oldest potter of the county of Lagoa, a son and grandson of potters who learned his art in the old Ceramic Milk; Sandra Ferraz of Pico da Pedra, in Ponta Delgada, who creates nativity scenes; Eugênia Teixeira of Porto, who creates artifacts executed with bark of cork; and Teresa Baganha of Water of Pau, S. Miguel, who creates covers and flags of the Holy Ghost.