Portugal’s president set to visit Gustine, other cities as part of California trip

The president of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is scheduled to visit with local officials, community members and dignitaries in Gustine this week as part of his visit to the Golden State.

Rebelo de Sousa is scheduled to appear 4 p.m. Sunday at the Gustine Pentecostal Society Portuguese Hall, located at 500 3rd Ave., according to a Facebook post by the Consulate General of Portugal in San Francisco.

City officials say it’s the first visit by a Portuguese president to the city. Gustine Mayor Pat Nagy is scheduled to present Rebelo de Sousa with a key to the city during the ceremonies, according to a City of Gustine news release.

While the area around the GPS Hall and the arrival of the president is open to the public, officials say the meet-and-greet is an invitation-only event, according to the release.

His visit to Gustine is one of several stops planned in California during the upcoming days. According to the Consulate General of Portugal, Rebelo de Sousa is scheduled to throw the first pitch at the San Francisco Giants/Colorado Rockies game Tuesday in celebration of Portuguese Heritage Night.

He’s also scheduled to appear at Stanford University on Monday for a panel discussion titled “Sustainable Solutions for Portugal and California.”

It’s not surprising that Rebelo de Sousa added the City of Gustine, located on Merced County’s Westside, to his itinerary.

While tens of thousands of San Joaquin Valley residents trace their roots back to Portugal and the Azores, Gustine in particular is rich with Portuguese traditions that continue to this day.

For example, thousands of people flock to the city every year to celebrate its annual festa, which has been going strong since the 1930s.

Bloodless bullfights, religious services, colorful customs, dances and other events are mainstays at the long-standing celebration.

This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 5:30 AM.