All rights Reserved ©  Come to Portugal 2011-2023

TM

Fairs Festivals and Exhibitions’

The Algarve sees many weekly events throughout the year; in this section we list just some of the major events held annually. To find local events we suggest checking local tourist office or local press.

January

Medieval fair held in Paderne medieval recreation of the middle ages a 5 day event running from last week in December until beginning of the New Year. With street parades, tournaments, exhibitions of crafts, medieval style street market, live music.

February

Loule Chocolate fair (Festival de Chocolate) held in the second week of the month, a 2 day event normally covering Valentine’s day held in the large covered indoor market.

Cycling Tour of the Algarve (Volta ao Algarve) is a main annual event with hundreds of professional and semi-professionals from across the world. Held in many different stages, people across the Algarve line the street’s cheering them on. Public roads are temporary closed during the events.

Carnival Depending when Easter falls the well-known carnival season takes place across the whole of Portugal over a 3 day period. With the main carnival procession always taking place on Shrove Tuesday (public holiday) held in most towns and villages across the Algarve.More details click here

March

 Monchique Sausage fair. (Feira dos Enchidos Tradicionais de Serra de Monchique) The Monchique Mountain is well known for its self-sufficiency when it comes to produce. Famous for Medronho (distilled liquor), honey, and black pork. The fair held in the first week of March, celebrates local craft with focus on the different types of sausage, with around 50 stalls.

International Carnival Sailing Regatta held in the first week of March first event held in 1976 now attracting up to 300 sailing entrants from around Europe. held in Vilamoura.

Carnivals see February above

Faro Flamenco Festival This colourful festival holds many competitions and workshops for wanting to take part. First founded in 2004 its success has seen people flock to the event from all across Portugal/ Spain. The speed of the tap dancing and spectacular costumes will amaze you, held in the second week in March in the evenings.

Open Door Held in Estombar at the winery Quinta Dos Vales, on the first Sunday of the month, entrance is free; with live music, dance shows, entertainment. The event offers wine tasting's as well as a tour of the wine making process, many stalls selling traditional crafts and foods. The open day offers the opportunity to wander around the large gardens with unusual art sculptures in the grounds where you will also find many animals in the mini natural zoo. Workshops and free raffle prizes, ideal for a family event. Opening hours 11: am - 7: pm.More details and photo’s click here

April

Tavira Annual Spring fair (Feira da Serra da Primavera de Tavira) this country fair is held over 2 days including the public holiday of the 25th (Liberation Day) a large fair with up to 100 stalls. Showing traditional skills, of metal work, basket weaving, lace making and traditional food dishes.

Liberation Day held on the 25th of April a public holiday that celebrates the fall of fascist regime in 1974. Many cities and towns hold events and firework displays across the whole of Portugal.

Cake Festival (Folar) held every Easter the cake is really more spicy bread which has hard boiled eggs complete with the shell.  Known in Portugal as Folar, many towns hold festivals. One such place is Guia in central Algarve it holds a giant cake festival with the cake measuring around 2 metre in width. Live music and dancing held in the village centre at the football ground. More photo’s and detail click here

Flower Festival (Festa das Tochas Floridas) held in Sao Bras de Aportal on Easter Sunday. One of the most spectacular events in the Algarve with thousands of flowers and petals arranged on the back roads, Men line the streets holding flower decorated torches singing Hallelujah.

Open Door Held in Estombar at the winery Quinta Dos Vales, on the first Sunday of the month, entrance is free; with live music, dance shows, entertainment. The event offers wine tastings as well as a tour of the wine making process, many stalls selling traditional crafts and foods. The open day offers the opportunity to wander around the large gardens with unusual art sculptures in the grounds where you will also find many animals in the mini natural zoo. Workshops and free raffle prizes, ideal for a family event. Opening hours 11: am - 7: pm. .More details and photo’s click here

May

Albufeira Wine Fair (Bacchus Confraternity) Created in 2007 this wine fair gives talks, tastings and tips of the many award winning wines of Portugal. The fair has around 45-50 wineries who participate, giving a good selection to taste and purchase.

Folk /Wedding Festival along with many festival held on May day celebrated with families heading off  to picnic in the many beauty spots the Algarve offers. Alte in central Algarve is just one of many towns that hold a folk festival with traditional music and food. Events will often start on the 31st April.

Pine Cone Festival (Festa da Pinha) held in Estoi in the district of Far, the start of a 3 day pilgrimage, celebrated with live bands. Horse parades with decorated carriage’s, traditional dancing in the evenings a torch parade with fire. This is a large event well worth visiting.

Sand Sculpture (Feisa) said to be one of the largest sand sculpture exhibitions in Europe. Using around 40 tons of sand each year with a different theme, from rock stars to Hollywood. Covering a very large area and open in may until October, entrance fee charged

Corn Festival (Festa da Espiga) held in Salir a 3 day event it may not sound exciting by the title but one such event not to be missed.  A celebrated event for the past 40 years, with parades through streets, on the first day, and  2 further days of music & dancing, traditional costumes  much on offer with stalls and local food, a large event.

Seafood Festival (Festival gastronomia do mar) held in Tavira eastern Algarve over a 2 week period. Not a street festival as you would think but held in many participating restaurant with the focus on celebrating sea food.

Medieval festival held in the city of Lagos western Algarve a 3 day event sometime held towards the end of April. Street processions based on the Moorish history with bands, horse displays dressed in period style armour. Camels with riders, the festival is just one of the many medieval festival held across the Algarve throughout the years

June

International Algarve fair held in Lagoa in the Fatacul Park along the EN125 in central Algarve. A two day event offering many craft stalls live music and singing on stage. A dog show with competition classes, pony rides, plenty of food stands. Many stall offering product services many with free raffle prizes.More detail Click here

Snail Festival (Festival de Caracois) held in Castro Marim near the Spanish border, on the first or second week-end in June. The festival offers many ways to cook the snail from Spanish and Portuguese traditional recipes first founded in 2004. The festival has grown in size and now attracts many families from Portugal and Spain, live music throughout the event.

Folk Festival/Medieval fair held in the first week of June in Boliqueime surround the village church. Live music and singing, the fair sees locals dress in period costumes, the main theme is traditional local cuisine with open air dining leading into early hours. Free entry

Film Festival held in Portimao City in the first week of October with a wide range of short film from documentaries, animations, films are submitted each year from across the globe, an important event bringing international attention on many subject matters. free admission.

July

Beer Festival Held in Silves in Central Algarve in the first week of July for 10 days first celebrated over 35 years ago in the historical city. The event takes place in Fábrica do Inglés with music and singers throughout the 10 days, many types of beers served in ceramic mugs which can keep as souvenirs .traditional food and barbeques on offer one for the adults.

Jazz festival (Festival de Jazz) held over 3 days in the city of Loule, on the last week of July first started back in 1995. The festival has grown in popularity and size with jazz players coming from all corners of the planet to partake or just enjoy jam sessions.

Folklore Festival (Festival de Folcore do Azinhal) held in Azinhal just outside Castro Marim, one for all the family, with folk music singing, and dancing. Many traditional craft on show, lacemaking, basket weaving, hat making and costumes. Held in the second or third week in July, continues in to the evening.

Seafood Festival (Festa da Ria) The largest held in Faro over a 10 day period running into August, other smaller festivals are also held in other towns & villages. These events are ideal for those who would not order such dish from a restaurant, not knowing what might turn up at the table. At this event to get to see the many dishes on offer before you buy them from cataplanas, paellas, mussel, clams and many other delights from the sea. Event starts in the evening with live music & entertainment running the full 10 nights.

Faro Motorbike rally (Moto Clube Faro) held over a 3 day period one of the largest events of its type in the Algarve. With around 30,000 bikers coming from across the globe, Faro rally was established in the 1980s. Live music from well-known bands performs well into early hours, takes place around the 3rd week of July.

Sweets Art Festival (Feira Concurso Arte Doce) held in Lagos at the end of July a 3 day event. This is one for those with a sweet tooth stalls selling all kinds of handmade cakes, chocolate covered figs and many kinds of sweets the main theme is sculpture from animals to buildings all made from marzipan. Attracts a lot of people and a great family evening event opens 6pm - 10pm

August

Fatacil Showground (Fatacil-Feira de Artisanato,Turismo,Agricultura) The largest and most important fair held in the Algarve. This is one not to be missed ideal for families offering everything all in one place, held over 10 days in the cool evenings of August. Artisans come for miles around to show off their skills and wares. Spectacular horse arena with events every night, on the other side of the park is music from well-known singers from across Portugal and Europe, many farm animals to view some ideal for petting. Many foods on offer from all regions fresh oven baked breads with cheeses and hams. Great full entertainment event giving a true taste of Portugal.More details and photo’s click here

Seafood/shellfish festival (O Festival do Marisco de Olhao) held in Olhao and said to be one of the largest of its kind in the Algarve. Established over 25 year’s large stage set up for great evening entertainment, of singing and music. For those who Love sea food then this festival sees many dishes including paellas, evening outdoor event into early hours.

Sardine Festivals (festival de sardine) Famous across the Algarve the largest one is held in Portimao over a 10 day period along the waterfront with evening fireworks displays. Over 6 ton of sardines are consumed over the 10 days, with a sardine eating competition one record was 49 sardines eating in 15 minutes. Others include the Olhos D Agua sardine festival near Albufeira a smaller 4 day event.

Medieval Festival (Silves Feira Medieval) held in Silves with its castle as the backdrop making the whole event more believable, one of the largest held over 10 days. Holding re-enactments from the Moorish periods, streets fill with, jugglers, acrobats and fire breathers. While many stalls from Morocco give the feel of the past, an arena with horse jousting, small fee applies.

Seafood Festival (Festa da Ria) held in Fuzeta over a 5 day period the 3rd week in August, first established in 2003. Other smaller festivals are also held in other towns & villages. At this event to get to see the many dishes on offer before you buy them from cataplanas, paellas, mussel, clams and many other delights from the sea. Event starts in the evenings with music entertainment with different artists every night ideal family event.

September

Dried Fruits Fair (Feira Frutos Secos) Held in the village of Alcantarilha just off the EN 125. A 3 day event on the last week in august going into September, celebrating the many different dried fruits, in many forms from sweets cakes preserves and liquors. An early evening event with live music and dancing into the early hours, a good family event offering around 40 stalls and a living museum showing how people lived in the past.More details and Photo’s click here

Medieval Fair (Salir do Tempo) held in Salir in eastern Algarve over a 3 day period with fun for all locals in period customs really add to the atmosphere. Many stalls with period style banquet, ideal event for families.

Flamenco Festival held in Lagos over a 3 day period in the 2nd week of September. For those who love to watch this skilful fast tap dance with the ever equal pace of the guitar, costumes that swish and swirl making the whole event mesmerising.  

October

Bird Watching Festival a 3 day event that has grown in popularity since it first festival in 2000.Held in Sagres in western Algarve, offering field trips talks on countryside finds, also offering dolphin watching, horse riding. The area is one of the Algarve’s important areas for wildlife protection, bird which can be observed include storks, eagles, vultures, hawks and falcons. Other areas of importance include salgados (Armacao de Pera) in central Algarve.

Traditional Fair (Feira de Castro) held on the border of the Algarve and the Alentejo a 2 day event on the 3rd week of October. Street market stalls selling dried fruits traditional country produce, including many skilled craft still used in countryside living, one of the largest fairs of the region, well worth the trip inland.

Blip Exhibition (Better Living in Portugal) held in Portimao western Algarve at the Portimao Arena on the first week-end in October. Offering many stands and stalls from services to products. The event is ideal for those looking for information on living in Portugal. Ideal for browsing more than 100 stall selling crafts, foods, services and Portuguese products. Offers staffed care area for children, plenty of space to sit for coffee. Entrance is free.More details and photo’s click here

Open Door Held in Estombar at the winery Quinta Dos Vales, on the first Sunday of the month, entrance is free; with live music, dance shows, entertainment. The event offers wine tasting's as well as a tour of the wine making process, many stalls selling traditional crafts and foods. The open day offers the opportunity to wander around the large gardens with unusual art sculptures in the grounds where you will also find many animals in the mini natural zoo. Workshops and free raffle prizes, ideal for a family event. Opening hours 11: am - 7: pm.More details and photo’s click here

November

Sweet Potato fair (Festival da Batata-doce de Aljezur) held Aljezur in western Algarve, 3 day event celebrating a Gastronomic theme. Large event with many craft and food stalls, cooking demonstrations. Enjoy hot sweet jacket potatoes with many different toppings, well worth the visit a good country style fair with a real taste of the country.

December

There are just to many events to list at this time of year, nearly every town and city will be hold some kind of Christmas fair from the large ones in Vila real St Antonio that lay on an ice skating ring to the village humble fairs selling handcrafted wears and sweets, cakes and preserves. There are many religious festivals also held this time of year to the run up to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and ends Kings Day, or Epiphany on January 6th.

Charity Santa Swim Held in Armacao de Pera and organized by the Holiday inn, in aid of charity. Christmas morning at 11am on the beach many turn up in Santa Claus outfits for a charity swim in the ocean. The event has been going over 10 years come rain or shine, if in the area go down to give your support.

Sausage festival

Sweets Fair

Fatacil equestrian display

2 day BliP exhibitition

Cakes festival

Silves Medieval Fair

Hand craft fair

Live music event across algarve

10 day Fatacil fair

Normal late night event

Traditional organ grinder

Open Day Quinta Dos Vales

Algarve Fairs, exhibitions, dates for every month of the year