2026 Festa do Espírito Santo
116th Annual U.P.S.E.S. Festa
Hosted by Pamela Rodrigues & Family
FESTA 2026
Location: U.P.S.E.S. Portuguese Hall, 2818 Avenida de Portugal, San Diego, CA 92106
Honoring
We are excited to announce the 116th Portuguese Festa King and Queen for the 2026 Festa do Espírito Santo.
Our Royalty will proudly represent the U.P.S.E.S. Portuguese Hall and community throughout the year’s celebrations, carrying forward the traditions, faith, and unity that make this event so meaningful. Join us in honoring them during all Festa events in 2026.
Festa 2026 Resources
Explore key pages, event updates, and opportunities to get involved with the 116th Annual United Portuguese SES Festa.
Festa Main Page
President’s Message
King & Queen
Fundraisers
Golf Tournament
Stay tuned for more Festa 2026 updates and ways to participate.
Festival of the Holy Spirit
2026 Festa Fundraisers & upcoming events
In 1920 Mr. M.O. Medina saw the need for a common place for the community to gather to celebrate the Festa do Espírito Santo, “Festival of the Holy Spirit,” and developed a committee to begin gathering the funds needed to build a ‘Capela’ or Chapel and a community hall. He led his committee throughout California to procure donations although roads were very difficult to travel at the time.
To complete construction work on the Capela, boat owners would leave a crewmember at home paying him 25 cents a ton for his efforts. In 1922 the Portuguese community of San Diego proudly inaugurated the União Portuguesa Açoreana Sociedade do Espírito Santo, which translates to the United Portuguese Azorean Society of the Holy Spirit, Capela or the U.P.A.S.E.S. Chapel and Hall. The Chapel is 1 of only 2 original Portuguese chapels in California.
As more and more Portuguese immigrated to San Diego in hopes of finding better lives for their families, the need for a larger hall was recognized. There were immigrants from the Azores, Madeira, and the mainland continent of Portugal. No matter from what region of Portugal they were from, they were all Portuguese and all were welcomed. The community pooled together resources and acquired financing. The original hall from 1922 was then moved and a new hall was constructed. In 1948 the current União Portuguesa Sociedade do Espírito Santo, which translates to the United Portuguese Society of the Holy Spirit, or U.P.S.E.S. Inc. Hall was opened. Mr. M.O. Medina served as the first President and remained so for 51 years.
2024 Festa Photos by Billy Economou Photography & Video
Festa Resources:
2026 Festa Presidents’ Message
Dress Code (Strictly Enforced)
UPSES Hall and Bar: No t-shirts, torn jeans, flip flops, or caps allowed.
Queen’s Ball:
Men: Jacket and tie preferred.
Women: Formal gown, cocktail dress, or evening pantsuit.
The Crown “Coroa”
The Crown has a double significance. First is represents the supreme dominion of the Holy Spirit. Second it reminds us of the royalty of Queen Saint Isabel.
The Scepter of the Crown is accented by a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit whose love was so manifest in the Queen’s life. Lastly, the Platter serves as a stand for the crown and scepter and represents the people.
Past Festa Presidents & Festa Queens
1910 – Current
1910 – 1970
1910: Mr. Frank Silva – Queen Rose Silva
1914: Mr. Joe Lawrence – Queen Mary Miller-Oliver
1915: Mr. Leal – Queen Julia Aurora Mitchell-Gama
1922: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel O. Medina
1923: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel M. Medina
1924: Mr. & Mrs. Frank P. Silva – Queen Adeline Soares
1925: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel S. Monise
1926: Mr. & Mrs. Joe S. Rogers – Queen Lucy Marciel Booker
1927: Mr. & Mrs. Joe F. Souza
1928: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Medina-M/V San Joaquim
1929: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel O. Medina-M/V Atlantic – Queen Isabella Cardoza
1930: Mr. Manuel Silva Soares-M/V Abraham Lincoln
1931: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel S. Silva-M/V Santo Amaro – Queen Constance Rebelo
1932: Mr. & Mrs. Mathew Monise-M/V Olympia – Queen Alice Silva
1933: Mr. & Mrs. Joe M. Medina-M/V Vasco de Gama – Queen Laura Silva
1934: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel H. Freitas-M/V Navigator – Queen Lucy Rogers Bowker
1935: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel G. DaRosa-M/V Lusitania – Queen Maria Rosa Santos
1936: Mr. & Mrs. Frank P. Silva, Jr.-M/V St. Therese – Queen Elaine Silva Fish
1937: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel F. Correia-M/V Glory of the Sea – Queen Helen Silva
1938: Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Francisco-M/V Sao Joao – Queen Mary Ida Francisco
1939: Mr. & Mrs. Joaquim O. Medina-M/V Mayflower – Queen Mary Correia Martin
1940: Mr. & Mrs. Joe M. Medina-M/V Queen Mary – Queen Lucille Medina Machado
1941: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel M. Medina-M/V San Salvador – Queen Marjorie Medina Amptman
1942: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel G. DaRosa-M/V Lusitania – Queen Maria Rosa Santos
1943: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel F. Correia-M/V Glory of the Sea – Queen Ernestine Correia Jurek
1944: Mr. & Mrs. Antonio G. DaRoas-M/V Azoreana – Queen Maria Rosa Santos
1945: Mr. & Mrs. Joaquim O. Medina-M/V Senorita – Queen Florence Neto Garcia
1946: Mr. & Mrs. August Silva-M/V Columbus – Queen Mary Ferreira Silva
1947: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Medina-M/V Bernadette – Queen Bernadette Medina Simms
1948: Mr. & Mrs. Mathew C. Monise-M/V Victory – Queen Gloria Jones
1949: Mr. & Mrs. Joe F. Souza-M/V Glory of the Sea – Queen Lorraine Silva Lewis
1950: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Luz-M/V Courageous – Queen Agnes Correia
1951: Mr. & Mrs. Esmael Virissimo-M/V Heroic – Queen Mary Dolores Correia
1952: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Goncalves-M/V Santa Margarita – Queen Mary Goncalves Ferreira
1953: Mr. & Mrs. Joe R. Silva-M/V Patria – Queen Patricia Medina
1954: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Neves, Jr.-M/V Constitution – Queen Lillian Brown Crawford
1955: Mr. & Mrs. Edward S. Varley-M/V Sun Victoria – Queen Sally Castiglione
1956: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Perry-M/V Frances Marie – Queen Francis Gillis
1957: Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Cabral-M/V Equator – Queen Connie Madruga
1958: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Brenha, Jr.-M/V Viking – Queen Hilda Brenha Gigante
1959: Mr. & Mrs. John Reis-M/V High Seas – Queen Rosaria Correia Giacalone
1960: Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Nunes – Queen Loretta Frates
1961: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Colergo – Queen Agnes Colergo Freitas
1962: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel M. Medina-M/V San Joaquim – Queen Carolyn Medina Olinger
1963: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel O. Medina-M/V Normandie – Queen Carole Stockwell
1964: Mr. & Mrs. Joaquim Qualin-M/V Navigator – Queen Alice Jean Qualin
1965: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel A. Silva-M/V Cathy Lynn – Queen Cathy Silva Dellenbach
1966: Mr. & Mrs. Abilio Magellan – Queen Marilyn Medina Howden
1967: Mr. & Mrs. A. Roland Virissimo-M/V Hornet – Queen Jeannie Virissimo
1968: Mr. & Mrs. Edward Ribeiro – Queen Colleen R. Mauricio
1969: Mr. & Mrs. Antone Rose – Queen Cheryl Rose LaGamma
1970 – Current
1970: Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Alves – Queen Julie Alves
1971: Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Oliveira – Queen Michelle Miller Arterberry
1972: Mr. & Mrs. Joe Medina, Jr.-M/V Queen Mary – Queen Cathy Silva Decker
1973: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Valin-M/V Sea Preme – Queen Andrea Valin
1974: Mr. & Mrs. Thomas L. Perry – Queen Carol Perry Holcumb
1975: Mr. & Mrs. Larry Garcia – Queen Sharon Garcia Fischer
1976: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel J. Ribeiro – Queen Melanie Ribeiro Sardinha
1977: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Valin-M/V Sea Preme – Queen Linda Virissimo
1978: Mr. & Mrs. Anibal Freitas – Queen Maria Freitas Epstein
1979: Mr. & Mrs. Joe Lewis – Queen Michelle Codinha
1980: Mr. & Mrs. Frank Souza-M/V Captain MJ Souza – Queen Lynn Souza DeMaria
1981: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel G. Gonsalves – Queen Karen Medeiros Hamburg
1982: Mr. & Mrs. John J. Carvalho, Sr. – Queen Claudine Mattos
1983: Mr. & Mrs. Norman Oliver – Queen Christine Oliver
1984: Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Feliciano – Queen Lisa Feliciano Pereira
1985: Mr. & Mrs. Cristiano DaRosa-M/V Evelyn DaRosa – Queen Evelyn DaRosa Feliciano
1986: Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Noe – Queen Danielle Noe Griego
1987: Mr. & Mrs. Joe Lewis – Queen Kristy Pringle Durment
1988: Mr. & Mrs. Avelino Gonsalves – Queen Andrea da Rosa
1989: Mr. & Mrs. John Mattos – Queen Kristin Balelo
1990: Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Silveira – Queen Desiree Silveira Thierry
1991: Mr. & Mrs. John L. Sousa – Queen Mary Pamela Sousa
1992: Mr. & Mrs. Joseph DeSilva-M/V Sea Encounter – Queen Bridget DeSilva Schoeffel
1993: Mr. & Mrs. Robert Virissimo-M/V Odette Therese – Queen Jodette Virissimo Goebel
1994: Mr. & Mrs. Jose S. Jorge-M/V Brenda Jolene – Queen Brenda Jorge Lucas & Queen Jolene Jorge Ferreira
1995: Mr. & Mrs. Joe Feliciano – Queen Denise Feliciano Kendrick
1996: Mr. & Mrs. Paul Stanley – Queen Mariel Stanley Filippone
1997: Mr. & Mrs. Joe Rogers – Queen Summer Butler
1998: Mr. & Mrs. John Freitas-M/V Carol Linda – Queen Nazare Freitas Judd
1999: Mr. & Mrs. Julio Simoes – Queen Jeanette Simoes
2000: Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Calabrese – Queen Tiffany Ribeiro Balelo
2001: Mr. & Mrs. John Dellenbach – Queen Lynnae Keltner McCarty
2002: Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Leal – Queen Tricia Leal
2003: Maria Gorete Correia – Queen Corinna Correia Jaszczolt & Queen Crystal Correia Savitz
2004: Mr. & Mrs. John Scott – Queen Taya Scott Harrington
2005: Mr. & Mrs. Idalmiro daRosa – Queen Amanda daRosa
2006: Mr. & Mrs. Matt Madruga – Queen Loriana Madruga & Queen Alyssa Madruga
2007: Mr. & Mrs. Jose Drummond – Queen Danielle Drummond Rogers
2008: Beatrice DeSilva & Family – Queen Ariel Brito
2009: Mr. & Mrs. Julio Simoes – Queen Juliette Simoes
2010: Evelyn DaRosa Feliciano – Queen Karinna Feliciano
2011: Deborah Ann Seiter – Queen Nicole Giglio
2012: Mr. & Mrs. Ron Simas – Queen Nazare Simas & Queen Elizabeth “Lizzy” Simas
2013: Mr. & Mrs. Pedro Ferreira – Queen Sierra Ferreira
2014: Mr. & Mrs. Donald Valadao – Queen Janee Valadao
2015: Mr. & Mrs. Jose Pedro Garces – Queen Ashley Barandiaran
2016: Mr. & Mrs. Michael Thierry – Queen Taylor Thierry
2017: Evelina S. DaRosa & Family – Queen Karinna Feliciano
2018: Maria Ermelinda Jorge & Family – Queen Michaela Lucas & Queen Mackenzie Lucas
2019: Mr. & Mrs. Anthony DaSilva – Queen Grace DaSilva
2020: Mr. & Mrs. Brian Dutra – COVID-19
2021: United Portuguese SES Inc. – Queen Jaquelyn Neves
2022: Mr. & Mrs. Brian Dutra – Queen Jenavieve Dutra
2023: Ted & CiCi Drummond – Queen Eva Rosa
2024: Bridget & Brennand Schoeffel – Queen Briley Elizabeth Schoeffel
2025: Darlene & Jason Byrne – Queen Ava Marie Byrne
