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Things to Do:
Algarve Festivals |
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Food & Drink Festivals:
Festival of the Smoked Sausage - A mix of pagan ritual and religious celebration where an auction of smoked sausage takes place in homage to Sao Luis, the patron saint of animals with proceeds going to charity. Largo do Igreja, Querenca.
January 20.
Seafood Festival - Folk music and dancing add further flavour to the unimaginable collection of seafood delicacy including octopus, squid, clam, prawn, mussel and grilled sardine. Not to be missed by seafood fans! Jardim Patrao Joaquim Lopes, Olhao.
August 10-15.
Sardines Festival - Grilled sardines take centre stage with a massive set-up on the beach. Quarteira.
August.
Silves Beer Festival - A ten-day drinking spree offering a large and often exotic collection. Fabrica do Ingles showground, Silves.
Jun 29-July 8.
Sweet Fair - Sculpted egg, almond and fig sweets are sold along with other local produce. Lagos.
July.
Presunto Festival - The place to try cured hams, in the town famous for them. Monchique.
July.
Music & Cultural Festivals:
Algarve International Music Festival - A prestigious arts festival with music, song and dance performances ranging including jazz, ballet, choral ensembles and melancholic Fado. Various regional venues.
June and July.
National Folklore Festival - Lively troops of dancers and musicians from across Portugal descend on the region for two weeks of spirited performances. Various regional venues.
Mid September.
Loule International Jazz Festival - Local and international jazz performers play on weekends. Loule.
Throughout July.
Feira do Carmo - Faro town fair with handicrafts, live entertainment and a boat parade. Faro.
July.
Alte Week of Arts and Culture - Live shows, brass bands and folk dancing are accompanied by a grand picnic.
May.
Algarve International Cinema Festival - Both international and Portuguese films shown. Cinemas in Portimao, Alvor and Praia da Rocha.
Throughout May.
City & Street Festivals:
Carnival - One of the biggest, brightest and boldest street parties in Portugal, a three-day event of float processionals with costumes, masks and dance. Loule town centre.
Before Easter.
City Festival - Tavira's municipal holiday which includes a riot of coloural paper flowers, evergreen myrtle, sizzling sardines, dancing and revelery well into the night. Tavira town centre.
June 24-25.
Festa de Santos Populares - Street parties celebrating the popular saints of Antonio, Joao an Pedro. Tavira town centre.
June 12-13, 24-25 and 28-29.
Feira de Santa Iria, Largo de Sao Francisco - A week of craft stalls, bumper cars, music and daily festivities. Faro.
October.
Religious & Historical Festivals:
Mae Soberena - The Algarve's most important religious festival, where on Easter Sunday, a 16th century statue of Mae Soberena is carried into town from her hilltop shrine where she rests for two weeks. The return processional is much more joyous than the former subdued event and flowers and cries of "Viva Mae Soberena" fill the air. Loule town centre.
Easter Sunday.
Atacar o Maio - Literally means "attacking may" when May 1st is celebrated with dried figs and brandy accompanied by folk music. Some areas also have evening torchlight processionals and fireworks. Throughout the Algarve.
May 1st.
Medieval Fair - A spectacular pageant in the grounds of a 13th century castle with food, jousting, music and banter. At night, actors in period costumes recreate medieval plays to a hushed audience. Castro Marim.
August 31-September 2.
Agricultural Fairs:
Fatacil - The premier showcase for all things Algarve, this nine-day festival is part agricultural show, part handicrafts fair with music, trade exhibition and gastronomy festival thrown in for good measure. Fatacil showground. EN 125 Lagoa.
Last 10 days of August.
Seasonal Events:
Almond Blossom - The spectaculra blossoming of the almond trees is know as the snow of the Algarve. Vila Real, Guadiana.
January and February.
