Portuguese Festa

The annual Portuguese Festa is Saturday and Sunday at Miola Hall, 850 W. 4th Street.

Saturday’s event starts at 8 p.m. and Sunday’s festivities kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday’s menu includes lingucia and rolls, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and the 9th Street Band will entertain guests. Cost is $5.

A Portuguese parade starts at 10 a.m. Sunday and runs from West End Elementary School to St. Patricks Catholic Church. Traditional sopas and an auction will be held after the parade at Miola Hall.

Queens

This year’s Mini Queen is Brooke Fitch, the daughter of Julie Serpa and Brad Fitch. She was born July 22, 2003, in Reno.

Brooke Fitch, 9, attends E.C. Best Elementary School and is in Mrs. Ellis’s fourth-grade class. Brooke Fitch enjoys horseback riding, swimming, singing, dancing, playing the piano and playing with her friends.

Her great grandpa was Joe Serpa Ambrosio, who was born April 17, 1902, in Flores, Azores. He arrived in the U.S. when he was 17.

He worked on dairy farms in California until he married Adel Peraldo in Fallon on Aug. 11, 1932. Brooke Fitch’s grandparents were Joe and Joanne Serpa. Brooke Fitch is very proud to be Portuguese and enjoys celebrating her heritage at the Portuguese Festa.

This year’s Junior Queen is Gracie Homma. She is 11 and is in fifth grade at Numa Elementary School.

Homma loves to play outside, ride her horse and play with animals. When she grows up, she wants to be a veterinarian.

Homma is one-eighth Portuguese from her maternal great grandmother, who came from the island of Fial in the Azores. She has been participating in the Portuguese Festa since she was 4. Homma is so excited to be this year’s Junior Queen.

This year’s Senior Queen is Sierra Cox, a 16-year-old student at Churchill County High School. Her absolute passion is cheerleading.

She had an amazing experience cheering at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

She was born in Carson City and her father is Portuguese and she has always enjoyed hearing him speak of their heritage. Cox’s grandparents were from the Azores. She is very excited to be this year’s Senior Queen.