The Algarve, with its sun-drenched landscapes and picturesque coastal villages, is not only a haven for sun-seekers, but it is also home to a wealth of cultural events that reflect the region's rich history and vibrant traditions. The year is jam-packed with festivals and cultural events. Here are a lot that are definitely worth a visit.
JANUARY
This event, which is being held during the last days of the year and ends on January 1st.
For 4 days the locality of Paderne is filled with stands, arts, crafts and with the best of regional gastronomy.
The journey to the past is made through the re-creation of the medieval market, which stretches along the narrow alleys of the parish. The high point of the Medieval Fair of Paderne consists on procession which depicts the historic ceremony of the delivery of the Letter of Donation of the Castle of Paderne, by the king Dom Dinis, to the Order of Avis
FEBRUARI
The Loulé Carnival is one of the most famous and vibrant carnivals in the country. For 3 days, the city hosts parades trying to satirize the main social, political, economic or sports events of the last year. This festival takes place around the middle of februari.
The Loulé Carnival is known for its colorful and lively parades, featuring elaborate floats, costumes, and samba dancers. The streets of Loulé come alive with music, dancing, and a joyful celebration of Portuguese culture.
The Algarve’s famously beautiful almond blossoms will be the star of the show in the third edition of ‘Festival das Amendoeiras em Flor’, which will take place in the beginning of Februari, in the small village of Alta Mora, Castro Marim.
There will be several events taking place throughout the festival’s three days, headlined by four hikes ranging from 5km to 20km.
Several live music performances are also scheduled, with artists and groups spanning multiple genres from folk and world music to flamenco.
The entertainment programme also features live theatrical and dance performances and alos activities for children such as face painting, traditional games, a petting zoo, donkey rides and performances by living statues.
Another highlight promises to be the unveiling of a 42-metre-long almond cake, created by students from the Hotel and Tourism School of Vila Real de Santo António.
MARCH
This two-day event brings together the best sausages of the region and presents them along with other specialties such as honey, medronho and traditional sweets. The fair also features local handicrafts.
The event takes place in teh beginning of March and several performances and musical concerts are presented.
The Contraband Festival, in Alcoutim, aims to honour an activity that for many years was part of the Algarve traditions and that is inexorably linked to the history of the region. The proximity to the frontier and an extensive coast were always propitious for the most fearless to risk the smuggling of goods to make a fortune. Besides the goods being smuggled, the heavy sacks also carried the dreams and ambitions for a better life.
Usually held during three days, coinciding with the last weekend of March, in Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana (Spain) at the same time, the festival offers various artistic and cultural shows. Aromas of coffee, almonds, tobacco, accordion music and fandangos and stories of passions recreate the environment in which the smugglers used to live.
JUNE
The Black and White night in Carvoeiro unofficially starts the summer season in the Algarve. It takes place in the middle of june.
On this night of partying, which is already a tradition of Carvoeiro, visitors should dress in black and white to participate in the various celebrations that spread from the village to the beach. There will be several stages, the biggest is on the beach surrounded by spectacular light decorarations
This fetival boasts a place on the list of best ‘World Music”festivals in Europe. People and artists from all over the world gather to the city of Loule. Besides musical acts that take the stage, you will be able to dive into gastronomic, handicraft, street art, dance and other kinds of activities and displays from all over the world. This one truly is a ‘world’ festival. It takes place at the end of june.
The festival also will take place at the end of june on the beautiful sands at praia da Rocha in Portimão. Afro Nation Festival is an annual music festival that celebrates African and Afro-Caribbean music, culture, and lifestyle.
The festival typically features a lineup of popular artists and performers from the African music scene, including genres such as Afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, hip-hop, and more.
The Med Festival is one of the best music festivals in the country. For three days, at the very end of june, the best national and international artists visit the streets of Loulé to offer a wide range of alternative musical styles.
Recently honoured with two awards at the Iberian Festival Awards, the Med Festival makes the charming Historic Centre of the city the venue of the various concerts spread across the different stages that warming the breezy summer evenings.
Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy a concert of fado in the Cloisters of the Convent or to listen to classical music in the Igreja Matriz. Then head to the main stages where the main concerts take place.
JULY
The Ria Formosa Festival is one of the largest gastronomic events in the county of Faro and is usually held between the end of July and the beginning of August, in Largo de São Francisco, Faro. For about 10 days it is possible to taste the best seafood from Ria Formosa, as well as other regional specialties.
The animation of the event is ensured by the presence of several local and national artists.
AUGUST
The Sardine Festival in Portimão is usually held during the first week of August. For five days Portimão celebrates its gastronomic specialty – the sardine. Accompanied by the traditional baked potato or the famous regional salad, the delicious sardine is cooked perfectly to the delight of the more than 50 thousand visitors that usually visit the festival every year.
This good mood festival is also accompanied by live concerts every evening. Come taste the region’s specialty and participate in the Sardine Festival!
The Medieval Fair of Silves is usually held in the first fortnight of August, and for ten days the medieval period of the former capital of the kingdom of Al-Gharb (Algarve) is recreated.
Music and poetry are also present at this event, as proof of the importance attributed by the old capital to culture and arts. Two tournaments on horseback per day, animation in the Castle of Silves, medieval delicacies, dancing and animation, a coin of its own and a children’s space transport the visitors in time to an enchanted time of knights and maidens.
The Seafood Festival is one of the most well-known festivals in the entire Algarve. Held at Jardim Pescador Olhanense, next to the Ria Formosa, the festival features a wide variety of traditional cooking, regional sweets, handicrafts and live shows.
Every year thousands of people organize their vacations so that they can eat delicious seafood while they listen to concerts of some of the best artists in Portugal. This Festival is held in the middle of august.
Created in 1980 with the 1st Lagoa Regional Fair with the objective of developing the main economic sectors of the region, FATACIL, as its name indicates, has exhibitions of commerce, industry, agriculture, handicrafts and gastronomy. It is the strange combination of products and activities that makes this event to special.
The event lasts ten days and will take place in the second half of august.The gigantic fair also has several concerts to brighten the nights and late afternoons. The festival also offers various horse shows and entertainment for the whole family.
Forlkfaro brings to the Algarve the colourful music and dances of the world. This event, which covers a total of 15 localities, pays tribute to the songs, dances and costumes of peoples from different continents. It has international participants from Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico any many other countries to show their music tradiditons.
The festival also has street entertainments and a parade with the participating groups, creating an atmosphere of celebration and joy.
The festival lasts for 9 days and takes place in the second half of August.
This festival, usually held on the last Saturday of August, attracts thousands of people to the streets of Loulé. The whole town is dressed in white, the obligatory colour of the clothes of those who want to participate in the event, and bids farewell to another great summer in the Algarve.
The White Night has hundreds of live music and dance shows, entertainment spaces and play spaces spread around key points at the heart of Loulé. This event, one of the largest in the country, has sought to innovate year after year, and also features performances that seeks to engage the participation of visitors, jugglers, fire breathers, statue men, clowns, magicians and gymnasts.
During the party, the stores are open all night, dressed in white, and offer various discounts on their products.
SEPTEMBER
Festival F takes place in early September to mark the end of summer in the city of Faro, in the area of Vila Adentro. The festival repeats the formula of Festival Med, and turns the streets of the historic city centre into one of the best music festivals in the country. For three days, the best national artists perform throughout the night in a farewell to another fantastic summer.
OCTOBER
The Snack Route is an organisation that aims to introduce the snacks of the Algarve. To this end, it organizes every year the Algarve Snack Route (RPA), which will run from the beginning of October till the beginning of November. Those who wish to participate in the event can get a passport that gives entitlement to a snack and a drink for less then 5 euros at the different stops that make up the Snack Route.
There is no predefined order to go through the Route. When snacking at each establishment a stamp is placed in the corresponding space of the passport. Depending on the number of stamps you can qualify to receive different prizes.
For more information on how to participate in the event, please visit www.rotadopetisco.com
NOVEMBER
During a Friday and last weekend of November, the gastronomy shines in the locality of Aljezur. The variety of gastronomic offers goes through 4 restaurants, 3 bars and several street food stalls, where the most elaborate dishes are made using sweet potato as the main ingredient, from chocolate with sweet potato to sweet potato candies. At this festival you will also have the opportunity to taste handmade sweet potatoes beers.
More than a hundred exhibitors participate in this event to the delight of the thousands of visitors who come to Aljezur at this time.
You can also visit Facebook Events or www.viralagenda.com/pt or www.lavraromar.pt for more events in your region.
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