Petaluma Holy Ghost Society

The Petaluma Portuguese Hall is a non-profit religious and fraternal organization founded by Portuguese Immigrants in 1891. We are located at 4649 Bodega Avenue in Petaluma, CA 94952.

Who do I contact for hall rentals?
- For hall rentals please call Mary Machado at (707) 762-4995.
How do I become a member?
- Please email us your mailing address to petalumaholyghost@gmail.com or call/text (707) 971-5517 and we will send you member information.
Can I volunteer?
- We are always looking for new volunteers! Please email us at petalumaholyghost@gmail.com or call/text (707) 971-5517 and tell us what you would like to help with (set up, tear down, kitchen, serving, parade, etc.) and we will send you more information.
Is PHGS on social media?
- PHGS has a Facebook account (Petaluma Holy Ghost Society) and an Instagram account (@petalumaholyghostsociety)!
Which event do I need a ticket for admission?
- The crab feed requires a ticket for admission. Please check back in December for details on the crab feed. All festas are open to the public to eat for free in keeping with tradition of Saint Isabel of Portugal of feeding the poor.
How can I pay at the bar?
- The bar only takes payment in cash. We accept all bill denominations.
How can I donate?
- Donations by check or cash can be mailed to P.O Box 750572 Petaluma, CA 94975-0572 or donations will be accepted at the hall at any of our events.
Are children welcome?
- Children are welcome at all of our festas! For the crab feed, children who sit at a plate will need their own ticket.
Who do I contact for general inquiries?
- Please email petalumaholyghost@gmail.com or call/text (707) 971-5517.
Does PHGS have merchandise?
- Yes! We will be selling hats, t-shirts and sweatshirts at all of our events. If you cannot make it to an event, please email petalumaholyghost@gmail.com or call/text (707) 971-5517 to arrange a pickup.
Where can I find other upcoming festas?
- https://www.mypfsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-Festa-Book.pdf

Upcoming Events

January 18, 2026 Special Mass at the Hall

We will be celebrating mass at the Hall at 10 A.M. with Father Sean Rogers from St. John the Baptist Church in Healdsburg. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided after the mass. Filhos will be available for sale for $20 for a dozen. First come first served.

February 21, 2026 Crab Feed

February 21, 2026. Dinner 7 P.M. (Doors open at 6 P.M.). No host bar, Music & Dancing with Train Wreck Junction 8 P.M. to 12 A.M.. Note: We will also be doing “Take Out” from 2-4 P.M.. *Tickets needed for both take out & dinner* $20 cover to attend dance only

March 15, 2026 Special Mass in the Chapel

Details TBA

April 25, 2026 Stock Auction

April 25, 2026 *Saturday* Lunch at 12 P.M., Auction at 1P.M.

May 29, 2025 Presentation of the Queens

Rosary 6:30 P.M., Presentation of Queens at 7 P.M., followed by a “Queen’s Dinner” details on Queen’s Dinner TBA

May 31, 2026 Festa Do Espirito Santo

9 A.M. Parade Line up at Petaluma High School with 10:30 A.M. Mass at St. Vincent’s, 11:30 A.M. Parade lines up again back at the PHGS, 12:30 P.M. Lunch, 3 P.M. Live concert, Dancing 4 P.M. to 6 P.M., Dinner 6 P.M., Dancing 7 P.M.-9 P.M.

August 2, 2026 St. Anthony Festa

Mass at the chapel 2 P.M., 3 P.M. Procession, Small auction under the grapevines, Dinner to immediately follow, Music & Dancing from 7 P.M.-10 P.M..

September 12, 2026 Chamarita Night

Chamarita Dance Lessons from 6 P.M.-7:30 P.M. followed by open dancing from 7:30 P.M.-12A.M.. Admission: $10. Snack Bar will be open, No Host cocktails will be served.

October 3, 2026 Festa Das Contas

5:30 P.M. Meeting, 6 P.M. Nossa Senhora Rosary, Procession to follow rosary, 7 P.M. Dinner

Merchandise

PHGS Historical Videos from Festa in 1980’s and 1990’s

PHGS in the News

History of the Festa Do Espirito Santo

The Holy Ghost Festa or “Festa do Divino Espirito Santo” has its roots in medieval Aragon, where Queen St. Isabel of Portugal was born. The Queen honored the poor in celebration. The idea was to make the poor royalty for a day where they could eat and dance, and escape from their lives of drudgery. In the Azores, as in the United States, a crown is placed on a Queen or on an Emperor or Empress in some communities, and he or she is escorted through the streets in a procession to the local church where mass is celebrated. The entourage then processes to the fellowship hall where there is a feast and a dance. Anyone is invited to eat, as it is free, following the tradition of feeding the poor as in Queen Saint Isabel’s time. The meal is “sopas” bread and meat in a beef broth. On the crown is the symbol of a dove representing the holy spirit.

There are many versions of the story of Queen Saint Isabel’s miracle of turning bread into roses, but they are all fundamentally the same. She is said to have been forbidden by her unfaithful husband to give to the poor. Having hidden bread to give away in her apron, she encountered King Diniz, who asked her what she was carrying. Not wanting to let on that the contents of her apron were meant for the poor, she responded that they were roses. The bread was transformed into roses, and King Diniz, who could not understand how she could have fresh roses in January, did not punish his wife.