The Sardine Festival in Portimão and the Serra de São Brás de Alportel fair will not take place this year, as will most – or even all – of the summer events in the Algarve. However, the decision regarding events such as the Seafood Festival, in Olhão, or Fatacil, in Lagoa, will only be made official next Monday, May 11th, after a meeting of AMAL – Comunidade Intermunicipal do Algarve, from which a joint position of mayors will emerge.
Isilda Gomes, mayor of Portimão, contacted by Sul Informação, said the decision of the Council of Ministers this Thursday, which prohibits the holding of festivals until September 30th, «leaves no doubts and covers this type of event. It covers everything». Therefore, the Sardine Festival will be cancelled.
In the municipality, for this summer, two music festivals were also scheduled: the Afro Nation and Rolling Loud, "which have already been postponed for the year".
In São Brás de Alportel, it is also certain that there will be no Feira da Serra. Vítor Guerreiro, in statements to our newspaper, assumed that, in 2020, this event will not be held.
«It will be a sadness for many people and for the municipality's own economy. The current state of pandemic ends up having several consequences, even at the psychological level, because this is an event that involves the entire community. However, the most important thing is to safeguard people's health and safety”.
Fatacil, in Lagoa, one of the biggest events in the Algarve in August, should not “escape” the cancellation, but Luís Encarnação, contacted by Sul Informação, sends for next Monday a joint officialization with the other municipalities of the Algarve.
Lagoa, by the way, has already canceled several events, including the Black & White Night of Carvoeiro, which was scheduled for June 20, due to the pandemic.
In the neighboring municipality of Silves, the Medieval Fair that, year after year, brings thousands of people to the streets of the historic center will only return in 2021, but this is a decision that will only be discussed in the City Council, next Monday, as reported to our newspaper by Mayor Rosa Palma.
In Monchique, the Ham Fair, which usually takes place in July, is also at risk, as well as the Medieval Days of Castro Marim, which take place in August.
António Miguel Pina, president of AMAL and of the Chamber of Olhão, admitted to the Sul Informação that «there are events that are already known to be cancelled, but about others, nothing has yet been decided. Next week, after the AMAL meeting, we will take a joint position».
Asked about the realization of the Seafood Festival, the mayor was laconic: «for the week».
According to the Sul Informação, the theme of canceling the events was on the table at the AMAL meeting, this Friday. However, due to the extensive list of subjects under discussion, such as the issue of reopening the beaches, the meeting was suspended and will continue on Monday.
After the meeting of the Council of Ministers, this Thursday, Paulo Santos, vice president of the Chamber of Faro, told our newspaper, first hand, that the F Festival it will not be held in the same way and that events like the Alameda Beer Fest or the Baixa Street Fest will be cancelled.
In Loulé, the MED Festival, which would take place on the 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th of June, in Loulé, was also a “victim” of the pandemic.
Next week, it will be known that other events and festivals will add to this list.
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