Hélio Costa – Terceira Island Carnival Museum

To learn how to laugh with a people who look at the facts of life with joy and humor

The Hélio Costa – Terceira Island Carnival Museum is located at the Public Garden of Lajes Village, hosted in a Ramo Grande typical house.

In September 2005, it was established by decision of the Parish Assembly and Council of Lajes, one of the parishes that hold greater tradition in Terceira Carnival. It took the name of Hélio Costa, the greatest script writer of the traditional danças e bailinhos¹. Hélio Costa, a taxi driver, began to participate in Carnival groups while still very young. From 1983 on, he discovered his penchant for writing scripts and never stopped since then.

After expansion and remodeling works, the Museum reopened on February 1^st 2020.

This Museum preserves, studies, interprets and displays material and intangible objects that are representative of the identity, culture, history and development of Terceira Island Carnival. From the perspective of a “community museum”, it plays its part in upbringing cultural values, in active connection with the other actors and institutions, thus enhancing its educational function in the promotion and framing of the culture and history of Terceira Island Carnival.

¹ Considered by some as one of the world’s greatest manifestations of popular theatre, Terceira Island danças e bailinhos combine several performative arts, in either dramatic or satirical forms, where, clad in exuberant garments, the participants (actors, dancers, musicians and the master, who directs the ensemble) act on stages around the Island during Carnival days.