The Algarve has many ways to attract visitors to this region and one of them is through its festivities. Despite the various festivities throughout the Algarve region, the ones that stand out the most are: Sardine Festival in Portimão, FATACIL in Lagoa, Medieval Fair in Silves, Medieval Paderne and Al-Buhera in Albufeira, Mãe Soberana, MED Festival, Night Branca and Carnival in Loulé, Contraband Festival in Alcoutim and Medieval Days in Castro Marim.

Portimão

Sardine Festival

The Sardine Festival normally takes place during the first week of August, in Portimão, and it is possible to enjoy live music by Portuguese artists throughout the five days of the festival, while eating a grilled sardine in bread or on a plate, accompanied by traditional boiled potato, such as the famous mountain salad.

Lagoa

FATACIL - Handicraft, Tourism, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry Fair of Lagoa

FATACIL was created in 1980, with the aim of developing the main economic sectors in the region and, as the name implies, it contains trade, industry, agriculture, handicrafts and gastronomy exhibitions.

The event lasts for ten days, with several shows throughout the day and at the end of each day there is a concert to end and brighten the night.

Silves

Medieval Fair

The Silves Medieval Fair aims to recreate the medieval times of the ancient capital of the Algarve kingdom, normally taking place in the first half of August.

This fair makes visitors travel back in time, through animations over 15 days, such as horseback riding tournaments, dancing, activities inside the castle, music and poetry, the last two of which are intended to make known the importance attributed by Silves (former capital of the region) to culture and the arts.

Travelers with a distant past liven up the streets where the medieval fair takes place, being these dancers, jesters, acrobats, jugglers, snake charmers and Christian knights, the latter recreating the conquest of the city from the Moors.

Albufeira

Medieval Paderne

It lasts 4 days and takes place in the last days of the year and ends on January 1st, being organized by the municipality of Albufeira in partnership with the parish council of Paderne.

At Paderne Medieval, craft stalls, art and crafts demonstrations are present along the streets, as well as taverns with the best of Algarve cuisine.

The highlight of Paderne's medieval fair is the realization of a historic procession that portrays the ceremony of delivery of the Letter of Donation of the Castle of Paderne, by D. Dinis, to the Order of Avis.

Al-Buhera

The Al-Buhera Festival takes place at the end of July, for 5 days, and aims to take people back in time, when the Algarve region was under Arab rule and Albufeira was called Al-Buhera. 

This festival contains samples of handicrafts, regional products and during the five days it is possible to enjoy concerts and street entertainment.

Loulé

Sovereign Mother

The feast in honor of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, Sovereign Mother for the people of Loulé, has been a tradition since the 16th century. It begins on Easter Sunday, being called “Small Party of the Sovereign Mother”, when the patron saint of this city descends from the hill where her sanctuary is, following in procession towards the Church of Saint Francisco. The descent of the saint follows an easy march, with the Men of the Litter leading the heavy structure to the temple, to the sound of the March of the Sovereign Mother, performed by the Banda Filarmónica Artistas de Minerva. For 15 days the saint will remain in the Church of Saint Francisco, where various religious activities will be carried out.

After the 15 days, the “Big Feast of the Sovereign Mother” will be held, in which the patron saint returns to her sanctuary. After the saint leaves the Church of São Francisco, the procession travels through the streets of Loulé, to the rhythm of marches, with a mass held near the building built in memory of Engineer Duarte Pacheco, and later taken to the Convento do Espírito Santo. Santo, and following the way back to the Sanctuary.

The climb to the hill where the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Piedade is located is carried out at a fast pace, with the 8 men carrying the litter, together with the cadence of the music of the men in the band, “pushing” the litter up the hill.

MED Festival

The MED Festival takes place over 3 days in the streets of Loulé, where both national and international artists offer a huge range of alternative musical styles to liven up the hot summer nights.

White Night

The White Night is a festival held on the last Saturday of August in Loulé, where the whole city is dressed in white, which is the obligatory color.

In this festival there are hundreds of live music and dance shows, entertainment spaces and recreational spaces that are spread out in key points in the heart of Loulé, with the participation of those who visit this festival.

Carnival

The Loulé Carnival is the oldest in Portugal, having been around for over 110 years. For 3 days, the city of Loulé presents several parades that intend to mock the main social, political, economic or sporting events that took place in the last year, with floats being built that run along the main avenue of Loulé.

Alcoutim

Smuggling Festival

The Contraband Festival, normally held for 3 days, more specifically on the last weekend of March, in Alcoutim and Sanlúcar (Spain), aims to honor an activity that for many years has been part of the Algarve's traditions and is related to the rich history of the region. The proximity to the Spanish border and the extensive coast were always attractive to the most fearless to risk smuggling goods to make a fortune. In addition to these goods, the bags they carried on their backs carried the dreams and ambitions of a better life.

The festival presents several cultural shows, also containing aromas of coffee, almonds, tobacco, accordion sounds and stories of passions across borders, a way of recreating the environment in which smugglers lived.

Castro Marim

Medieval days

The Medieval Days of Castro Marim take place in the penultimate week of August, lasting 5 days and 5 nights. This event brings to life the legends of Moors and Christians from the Middle Ages that take place in Castro Marim Castle.

This event contains several shows, from horseback riding tournaments, to music, with the most popular show being the assault on the castle.

Come and discover the different festivities that the Algarve has to offer, having the opportunity to be part of them…