The Serra de São Brás de Alportel fair raised more than 37 thousand euros for the solidarity action “Renascer das Cinzas”, through the entire amount of ticket revenue from the event that took place on the 27th, 28th and 29th of July .
The Feira da Serra Organizing Committee stresses that, "after the catastrophe that shook the municipality and turned into ashes more than half of the territory and a good part of the natural wealth of São Brás de Alportel", it was decided to proceed with this event. , «in order to pay homage to the mountain range and its inhabitants, and channel all box office receipts to the “Renascer das Cinzas” Campaign, a campaign created to minimize the trail of destruction caused by the fire».
The solidarity of more than 24 thousand visitors to Feira da Serra, including adults, children, employees and guests, managed to raise more than 37 thousand euros that will now be directed to help families most affected by the fire.
This special edition of Feira da Serra was sponsored by Alberto Melo, one of the main mentors of Associação In Loco and considered to be the “father of Feira da Serra”.
On the occasion of the publication of his new book “Passagens Revoltas”, a collection of writings that account for more than four decades of local intervention and action with a view to sustainable development, the Municipality of São Brás de Alportel wanted to pay homage to him and to thank him for the contribution of a lifetime, for Serra do Caldeirão.
In the opening session, Alberto Melo recalled a little of the already vast history of Feira da Serra, recalling its initial purpose, that of “a fair created to show and enhance the products of the mountains, as well as the traditions, habits and customs of São Brás de Alportel and an Algarve with its very own cultural roots, which deserve to be dignified and valued” and congratulated the City Council for having continued this project and for all the commitment that Feira da Serra has made to the great event that it is today .
Serrano SPA made its debut
Governing then by these founding principles, the 21st edition of Feira da Serra is constituted as an Eco Event and reinvented itself with a new site dedicated to yet another fruit of the mountain, Medronho, presented the new SPA Serrano, dedicated to the region's natural products, it challenged creativity with an artistic hat contest, under the theme “A Fair to Take the Hat off”, and enchanted with the 2nd edition of the São Brás Fashion fashion show, bringing the best to the catwalk proposals from local businesses and the beauty and talent of São Brasense youth.
The new Sítio do Medronho invited visitors to a journey into the past through old taverns that offered the most delicious medronho brandies, accompanied by the curiosities of confreres of the Confraria do Medronho “Os Monchiqueiros”, towards the present in the refreshing ice creams of this fruit, with a view to the present future in the most recent research by the University of Algarve, Medronhad.
The flavors and aromas of medronho were extended to Palco Sabores, where, over the three nights, chef Jorge Sancho and sub-chef Fernando Cunha, chef Manuel Pires and chefs Bruno Viegas and Bruno Rocha presented various gastronomic suggestions live.
The trip through the palate also led to the Meeting of Flavors, where 6 restaurants and a tavern presented tasty temptations of the local cuisine, such as xarém, the small dinner of beans and chicken, the lamb stew, among other delicacies made with quality products easily found in the Municipal Market space.
The Serrano SPA, another of the Fair's novelties, challenged you to feel nature with all your senses… with the presentation of various natural products available for demonstrations every night.
"A fair to take the hat off" awarded originality
Creativity was the guest of honor in this 21st edition of taking the hat off, launched in the challenge of creating an original hat or transforming an existing hat. “A fair to take the hat off” had the participation of about four dozen hats evaluated by a local artisan, Custódio Cavaco, a local plastic artist, Ana Calheta, a representative of the Group of Schools of São Brás de Alportel, the Ricardina arts teacher, and a representative of the Association of Commerce and Services of the Algarve Region, Ana Fernandes.
In the second category of transformed hats, the 3rd place was awarded to Célia Vicente for her work “Esfarrapar ganga”, followed by the 2nd prize given to “Chapéu Fuxicos” by Eugénia Góis, reserving “Retalhos da Minha Serra” by authorship for 1st place. by Ercília Gomes.
In the first category, dedicated to the creation of an original hat, Susana Nunes won the 3rd prize, with the work “Chapéu de Letras”, followed in 2nd place with Elisabete Sousa with a hat titled “Entra a Serra e o Mar” and finally the big winner in this category – Sónia Nunes with “Chapéu de Palma”.
All winners won a basket filled and adorned with products and materials from various exhibitors at Feira da Serra 2012.
Animation was also present at this 21st edition of the Serra de São Brás de Alportel Fair, from the Picadeiro, which presented visitors with baptisms of riding, carousels, cavalcades and equestrian shows, passed by Sítio dos Curosos with more than a dozen fun experiences for the younger ones, with a stop at Sítio dos Animals with friendly donkey rides, the entertainment was rampant in the Feira da Serra enclosure in the Ethnographic Horse Parade, in the beat of the Percutunes group or even in the sounds of the São Brás de Alportel Philharmonic Band .
Palco Principal and Palco Sonoridades completed this entertainment program with music and dance from all over the region and of all ages, reserving the Palco Sonoridades every day a Show-te Hour, where young people from São Paulo showed their potential.
On the Main Stage were big names from the Portuguese music scene, such as Lucky Duckies, Chave D'Ouro, the best in local businesses and the young entrepreneurship of two São Brás Fashion designers, the magic of humor with entertainer Herman José and also the melodies of the Algarve group Entre Luas, ending with the electrifying sounds of Amor Electro.
Be supportive and deposit your donation
The Feira da Serra de São Brás de Alportel thus says goodbye to another edition with a positive balance and recalls «with this small step in solidarity that there is still a long way to go for the Serra do Caldeirão to return to normality, a path that can to be followed by all who want to contribute to the Renascer das Cinzas Campaign, available from the NIB: 000700000010831931923 from Banco Espírito Santo».
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