The city of Florianópolis has officially unveiled the comprehensive schedule for the centennial celebration of the Ponte Hercílio Luz, the iconic bridge that has served as the vital artery connecting the island of Santa Catarina to the mainland for a century. The Prefeitura de Florianópolis announced the program, which runs from May 9th to May 31st, 2026, transforming the bridge and its surroundings into a hub of cultural, artistic, and community activity.
The centerpiece of the celebrations is a pair of major free concerts. British soul and R&B singer Joss Stone will perform a headline show on Saturday, May 16th, at the Beira-Mar Continental. Her performance is scheduled from 8:00 PM to 9:15 PM, followed immediately by a spectacular fireworks and light show. The following day, Sunday, May 17th, will see a performance by beloved Brazilian singer and Catholic priest Padre Fábio de Melo. His show is set for 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, also at the Beira-Mar Continental, providing a spiritual and musical capstone to the weekend's festivities.
The programming extends far beyond these headline acts, offering a diverse array of events that highlight the bridge's historical and cultural significance. The celebration kicks off on Saturday, May 9th, with the FLIP Literary Fair at the bridge's head, followed by the launch of the book "Os 100 anos da Ponte Hercílio Luz - Renasce a Dama de Ferro" by author José Braz da Silveira. A symbolic "Hug to the Bridge" event is scheduled for 4:00 PM that same day, inviting the community to physically embrace the structure.
Sunday, May 10th, features an Antique Car Exhibition on the bridge itself from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, alongside musical performances including the Army Band, the ORFIC Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Coral Vozes de Santa Catarina. The following week, on Wednesday, May 13th, includes the launch of the FIPA initiative recognizing the bridge as a Historical Architectural Heritage site, a photographic exhibition, and a contemporary dance performance by the Catarina Dance Company.
The schedule also incorporates modern and electronic music elements. On Sunday, May 31st, the "Sekreta" sunset event will feature electronic DJs from the United States and Brazil, including Acraze, from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the bridge's head. Other notable events include the inauguration of the Parque do Remo and a rowing championship on May 17th, a photographic marathon on May 23rd and 24th, and a procession for Our Lady of Fatima on May 17th.
The Ponte Hercílio Luz is more than just infrastructure; it is the "Velha Senhora" (Old Lady), a beloved landmark and the first permanent link between the island and the continent, inaugurated on May 13, 1926. Over its 100 years, it has carried trams, animal-drawn vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, and buses, currently handling over 16,000 vehicles and thousands of pedestrians daily. It stands as a point of encounter, a tourist attraction, an engineering reference in Brazil, and the symbolic connection between Florianópolis's past and future.
This centennial celebration is a major civic event for the city and state, aiming to honor this shared history and reinforce the bridge's role as a central community space. The inclusion of international and national artists like Joss Stone and Padre Fábio de Melo underscores the event's scale and its importance to the cultural calendar of Santa Catarina. The month-long program is designed to engage all segments of the population, from literary and historical enthusiasts to music fans and families.
The full schedule offers numerous opportunities for residents and visitors to participate in the bridge's milestone. From book launches and exhibitions to concerts and a grand fireworks display, the city has planned a fitting tribute to a structure that has defined Florianópolis's geography and identity for a hundred years. Based on reporting from g1.