6 Top Festivals on Your Algarve Luxury
- By John T. Dixon
- Published 01/21/2012
- Travel
- Unrated
When you go on an Algarve luxury holiday, at any time of the year there’s a good chance that you will get to experience one of the many festivals that make the region famous. The people who live in the Algarve love to party, so check out one of these six festivals next time you are in the area.
1. Festival of the Smoked Sausage
This festival is held in Querença in January, and consists of a curious mix of religious and pagan celebration. The main event is the auction of smoked sausages in order to raise money for charity, in homage to São Luís, the patron saint of animals. You’ll find lots more rural food to try out at the festival, which makes a great diversion on an Algarve luxury holiday.
2. Algarve International Music Festival
This prestigious music festival consists of a combination of songs, music and dance, and is held from May to July every year in the Algarve. Luxury holidaymakers, families and any other kinds of travellers are spoiled for choice with the range of music and acts on offer, from ballet to dance and opera to jazz.
3. Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras normally takes place in February, and like some other high-profile places in the world it’s big in the Algarve. Luxury loving tourists can find carnivals popping up all over the place in towns and villages across the region, convenient to their hotels and villas. Arguably the best Mardi Gras celebrations are held at Loulé, but check locally when you arrive to find out what’s goi
ng on.
4. Liberation Day
Liberation Day is held on April 25th every year to mark the end of dictatorship in Portugal, following the revolution in 1974 when Antonio Salazar was overthrown. It is a national holiday and consists of lots of musical celebrations and fireworks, and is one to check out on your Algarve luxury holiday itinerary.
5. Sardine Festival
This is a world-famous festival that’s held in Portimão in August every year, and is one you’ll definitely want to visit during your Algarve luxury holiday. Dates vary every year, so check them out when you arrive. It consists of thousands of freshly caught sardines being grilled along with lots of other tasty food, and you can eat as many as you want along with plenty of red wine and lots of music, celebrations and fireworks.
6. Seafood Festival
Similar to the sardine festival, the Seafood Festival is held in Olhão, the biggest fishing port in the Algarve, and you’ll be able to try every kind of seafood you can imagine. There’s dancing, folk music, fireworks and, of course, plenty of seafood! The festival attracts about 60,000 visitors each year.
When you visit the Algarve, luxury and relaxation are what you are looking for, and there’s plenty of that on offer. But you should definitely make it your aim to visit one of the numerous festivals that are held in the Algarve every year. The above six provide you with a snapshot of some of the best, but there are lots more held throughout the year. Make sure you take the time to visit them on your Algarve luxury holiday – you’ll be glad you did.
1. Festival of the Smoked Sausage
This festival is held in Querença in January, and consists of a curious mix of religious and pagan celebration. The main event is the auction of smoked sausages in order to raise money for charity, in homage to São Luís, the patron saint of animals. You’ll find lots more rural food to try out at the festival, which makes a great diversion on an Algarve luxury holiday.
2. Algarve International Music Festival
This prestigious music festival consists of a combination of songs, music and dance, and is held from May to July every year in the Algarve. Luxury holidaymakers, families and any other kinds of travellers are spoiled for choice with the range of music and acts on offer, from ballet to dance and opera to jazz.
3. Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras normally takes place in February, and like some other high-profile places in the world it’s big in the Algarve. Luxury loving tourists can find carnivals popping up all over the place in towns and villages across the region, convenient to their hotels and villas. Arguably the best Mardi Gras celebrations are held at Loulé, but check locally when you arrive to find out what’s goi
4. Liberation Day
Liberation Day is held on April 25th every year to mark the end of dictatorship in Portugal, following the revolution in 1974 when Antonio Salazar was overthrown. It is a national holiday and consists of lots of musical celebrations and fireworks, and is one to check out on your Algarve luxury holiday itinerary.
5. Sardine Festival
This is a world-famous festival that’s held in Portimão in August every year, and is one you’ll definitely want to visit during your Algarve luxury holiday. Dates vary every year, so check them out when you arrive. It consists of thousands of freshly caught sardines being grilled along with lots of other tasty food, and you can eat as many as you want along with plenty of red wine and lots of music, celebrations and fireworks.
6. Seafood Festival
Similar to the sardine festival, the Seafood Festival is held in Olhão, the biggest fishing port in the Algarve, and you’ll be able to try every kind of seafood you can imagine. There’s dancing, folk music, fireworks and, of course, plenty of seafood! The festival attracts about 60,000 visitors each year.
When you visit the Algarve, luxury and relaxation are what you are looking for, and there’s plenty of that on offer. But you should definitely make it your aim to visit one of the numerous festivals that are held in the Algarve every year. The above six provide you with a snapshot of some of the best, but there are lots more held throughout the year. Make sure you take the time to visit them on your Algarve luxury holiday – you’ll be glad you did.
John T. Dixon
John Dixon is Managing Director of Prestige Holidays, a specialist travel company who have provided a wide portfolio of Algarve luxury holidays, as well as many other destinations around the world, for over 30 years.
View all articles by John T. Dixon