- April 18, 2024
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by: Maria Elizabeth Pereira
In any place far away from their homeland, whenever you get two or three Portuguese American families together, there’s an immediate desire to get a club/association running. The need to be together in an ideas/customs/traditions, homogenous in nature, is part of the Luso culture.
When the first Portuguese American families arrived in Palm Coast, the dream started conversations during the picnics and get-togethers amid those families. And it was in 1987 that this dream became a reality. The Portuguese American Cultural Center was founded in name only, while meetings, dinners and special events where held throughout Flagler County.
Eventually with the Portuguese population growing, the board became increasingly convinced that there was a need for an actual brick-and-mortar club.
Sixteen years after its founding, the Portuguese American Cultural Center finally had its headquarters and, on March 27, 2004, commemorated its “Mission accomplished” with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The building at 1200 Palm Harbor Parkway has about 1,000 members and is a true cultural center, with a Portuguese language school for members’ children and also a folklore dancing group “Corações de Portugal” of 50 plus elements. Every Thursday, the club's ladies group plays games, listens to special speakers and/or does crafts such as knitting, sewing, crochet, etc.
Throughout the year the center celebrates various traditional events such as Portugal Day in June, the Grapes Harvest in October, St. Martin in November, and holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, 4th of July and Halloween, as well as the celebration of various provinces such as Traz-os-Montes, and soccer teams of Portugal like Benfica and Sporting. The cheers are so loud that you can almost hear the roof cave in when a goal is scored by the National Team.
The Portuguese are proud of their heritage and receive many guests and politicians to their club.
In 2021, the Portuguese American Cultural Center will celebrate its 34th anniversary.
