About Us
Forty years and counting
Each year runners/walkers, Portuguese or not, gather and race in the historic Ironbound section, celebrating Portuguese-American culture in Newark.
The Portugal Day Races take place every year around the first or second Sunday of June (usually the closest one to the Portuguese national holiday). The race was founded in 1979 by the late Manuel Parente and had been directed for many years by the late Domingos Cravo. The Lar Dos Leos (Den of Lions) has organized the event since its beginning. In honor of their service to the Portuguese community, we have named the Cravo Kid Dash and the Parente Mile in the honor. We have also named the 5k race in honor of a longtime supporter and friend of ours, the late Jack Casimiro. Had it not been for their contributions and generosity, these races would not be possible.
-Muito obrigado por tudo que vocês tem feito
Great awards and fun, just ask anyone...
"Another year, another award! This is a great race, and one of my favorites! I look forward to coming back next year."
"Looking forward to it!!! Love this race. Very well run (excuse the pun) and great raffle prizes."
"The 5K race is a flat fast course. Great Run!
My first time but not my last"
The folks that make this event possible...
Den of Lions/ Lar dos Leoes
Iberia Restaurant
Power Concrete
Underground Utilities
Sumol
Seabra Group
Trinufo Import & Export
Teixeiras Bakery
Mayor Ras J. Baraka
City of Newark
Newark Police Department
Ironbound Ambulance Squad
Radio Luso-Americano
Luso Americano Newspaper
SPT/SIC International
...Obrigado