Parades, dances, folklore entertainment, sopas and more are on the menu this weekend, when the Gustine Pentecost Society hosts its 2008 festa.

The traditional Portuguese celebration of faith and heritage begins with a mass tonight, and will continue with weekend festivities before concluding with a Monday evening bullfight at Bella Vista Park.

Monica Jorge is the 2008 GPS senior queen. Her sidemaids are Jessica Toste and Sylvia Medeiros.

Kate Oliveira is the junior queen. Her sidemaids are Avery Oliveira and Keylene Rocha.

The festa begins with masses tonight (Thursday) and Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Miracles Church.

An evening of fados follows the Friday mass.

The traditional bodo de leite, or parade of cows, forms at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. The procession will travel to the GPS Hall, where a luncheon of cacoulha (beef stew) will be served. An auction of animals will follow.

Saturday evening activities include a mass at 7:30, the procession of Crowns of the Holy Spirit from the church to the GPS Hall at 8:30 and a dance at 9 p.m. A cantoria will be held outside the hall.

Queens and officers will be presented during the dance. The band Raca will be featured at the dance.

On Sunday, the parade of queens forms at 9 a.m. in front of the GPS Hall, and will proceed to OLM Church where mass will be celebrated at 10:30. The Rev. Jose Manuel Machado from San Jorge, Azores, will officiate the mass.

Sopas will be served after the parade returns to the GPS Hall.

An auction of gifts will take place at 2 p.m.

A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. at the hall, followed by a dinner of sopas and a dance to the music of Alcides Machado.

Bullfights are scheduled for Monday evening at Bella Vista Park. Gates open at 5 p.m. Bullfights begin at 8 p.m.

Gustine Pentecost Society officers are Joao and Odelta Jorge, president; Alfred and Lucy Nunes, vice president; Joe and Teresa Machado, secretary; John and Cecilia Pires, treasurer; and John Morais, marshal.