Algarve Hotels, Apartments and Villas

Holidays and Festivals in The Algarve

Monday, 16th November 2009

Portugal is very well served with holidays and festivals.

 

Public Holidays:

 

1 January - New Years Day - (Ano Novo)
25 April - Day of the Revolution - (Dia da Liberdade)
1 May - Labour Day - (Dia do Trabalho)
10 June - Day of Portugal - (Dia de Portugal)
13 June - Day of Saint António - (Dia de Santo António)
15 August - Assumption of Mary - (Assunção de Nossa Senhora)
5 October - Day of the Republic - (Implantação da República)
1 November - All Saints Day - (Todos-os-Santos)
1 December - Independence Day - (Restauração da Independência)
8 December - Immaculate Conception´s Day - (Imaculada Conceição)
25 December - Christmas (Natal)

Other Holidays:

24 February 2009 - Carnival/Shrove Tuesday - (Feira da Carnaval/Entrudo)
10 April 2009 - Good Friday - (Sexta-Feira Santa)
12 April 2009 - Eastern - (Páscoa)
11 June 2009 - Corpus Christi - (Corpo de Deus)

Portuguese National Holidays:

25 April - Liberty Day - Dia da Liberdade
10 June - Portugal Day - Dia de Camões
5  October - Republic Implantation - Dia de República

Festivals:

Just like their Spanish neighbours, the Portuguese need little excuse to hold a festival.

There are all kinds of festivals, many of which have religious roots.

Some of these include:

  • Feiras dos Enchidos Tradicionais. A sausage festival held in Monique in March
  • Festival Meditteraneo. Held in Loule each June, this is a noisy music and food festival.
  • Feira de Serra. Held in Sao Bras de Alporte ( about 10 miles from Faro) this is a very traditional festival specialising in local meats and cheese. For a taste of the real Algarve, worth a visit.
  • Sardine Festival. Held for a ten day period in Portimao in August. Did you know there are more than 100 ways of cooking sardines? Lots of music dance and wine.
  • Festival da Cerveja. A beer festival held each July in Silves, with lots of singing and dancing, and falling over.
  • Festival do Marisco. A noisy seafood and music festival held in Olhao. Lots of music.
  • Feira Concurso Arte Doce. An August festival held in Lagos, celebrating traditional Algarve desserts.