Summer has finally arrived and the Algarve wants tourists and residents to enjoy it in the best way possible, between dives, tours and events, many events. The July animation poster brings together theater, themed fairs, gastronomy, cars and motorbikes, pushing into the street anyone who wants to challenge the idea of a quiet and exclusive sun and beach vacation.
The program starts on the next 05th with the good habits of the Popular Festivals of Boliqueime, to which the traditional corn dinner, fried pork, roasted sausage or the best regional sweets and liqueurs were invited.
All accompanied by popular music and handicraft displays, factors that entice visitors to participate in the festivities that end on the 07th and last from 20:00 on the first day (19:00 on the rest) to 02:00.
Shortly after, on the 08th, summer begins in Tavira, a giant cultural event that includes an international festival of theater and street arts – Cenas na Rua –, film shows in the cloisters of Convento do Carmo, exhibitions at Palácio da Galeria about the Mediterranean Diet – Millennial Cultural Heritage, themed fairs dedicated to books, crafts, antiques and the unique Mediterranean diet. This is all a lot, but it's not enough.
Tavira then proposes to us until September (when the summer in Tavira ends its entertainment proposals) more concerts in Parque do Palácio, Praça da República and in the bandstand, a place that will host voices of amateur fado on Wednesdays. More information at www.cm-tavira.pt.
We could not leave Tavira, if the poster of the «neighborhood» wasn't also so promising. What is certain is that on the 10th (and even 14th) the Arabian Days will be another pretext for us to walk through the hot streets of the region, this time in Faro.
The city's historic center will become a "true kingdom of the Arabians", according to the organization that prepared everything down to the smallest detail: there will be a recreation of an Arab desert palace, a stage built with 78 cubic meters of salt, dozens from tents with various businesses, interaction with camels, a falcon and an Arabian dog, music, gastronomy, belly dancing, jugglers, fire-breathers and snake charmers. There are 1001 reasons to stop by this 1001 night super souk, between 19:00 and 01:00.
Almost simultaneously, on the 12th, 13th and 14th, the well-known historical rally Algarve Classic Cars takes place again, starting at the Tivoli Marina de Vilamoura.
This is the largest annual concentration of vintage cars in the Iberian Peninsula and brings together around 150 cars from mythical brands such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar and Aston Martins.
The event is included in the calendar of the Portuguese Federation of Automotive and Karting and is divided into two routes: the tourist and the sport (the latter requires the participant to perform 16 special classification events). More information at www.algarveclassiccars.com.
Meanwhile, the fifth edition of Salir do Tempo will begin in Loulé, a festival that recreates the medieval atmosphere through music, theater with historical context, dance, street entertainment and exhibitions.
In addition to the arts, this journey into the past includes a medieval market where merchants will be selling honey, cork, basketwork or dried fruit. It runs from the 13th to the 14th of July, in Salir, with free admission. More information at www.cm-loule.pt.
The long-awaited Algarve International Motorbike Concentration will also take place in July, from the 18th to the 21st, in Faro. This is one of the best known and affluent concentrations of bikers in Europe for its usual four days of socializing and music, with Axon, Xutos & Pontapés, Saratoga and Os Corvos. More information at www.motoclubefaro.pt.
The rest of the month belongs (almost exclusively) to the belly. The II Festival do Medronho and the XVI Ham Fair come to us from the 19th to the 21st, in Monchique, while from the 26th to the 28th, between 18 pm and midnight, it is the turn of the Lagos sports complex to host the Arte Doce and dozens of gluttonous visitors who hope to taste the algarvian sweets and peek at the work of the region's artisans. Admission is free.
Continuing the tradition, between 27 and 29 takes place the Feira da Serra in São Brás de Alportel with a different guest of honor – the almond. The knowledge and flavors of the Serra do Caldeirão will be on the premises of the Escola EB 2, 3 Poeta Bernardo de Passos, from 19:00 pm to 02:00 am (on the 26th and 27th. On the 28th, the premises close at 01:00 am). The animation will be entrusted to the Brothers Verdade, Francisco Menezes and Marco Paulo, in this order.
All these moments of entertainment are integrated in the brochure «Algarve with Events» which aims to bring together the programming of Municipal Councils and other entities in the Algarve in a pocket-sized guide that will facilitate the search of those looking for what there is to do in the region.
The brochure can be found at tourist offices in the Algarve and is available for download at www.visitalgarve.pt.
Comments