Albufeira Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal)

Albufeira is one of Portugal's most important tourist destinations and has a packed schedule of festivals, with many summer gatherings being staged on the beachfront and along the coastline. Each year, countless quality events take place all around the region, with the Festival of Our Lady of the Oracle (Festa da Ourada) each August being amongst the biggest and most well attended.

Culturally oriented events are a fun way for visitors to connect with the traditional music, stories and cuisine of the Algarve. Other celebrations are more special-interest-oriented. In any event, visiting Albufeira during a festival means you will have plenty of things to do and see in addition to lounging on the beach.

Albufeira Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Years Day - January 1st, the night before features live music and fireworks leading up to midnight
• Paderne Medieval Festival - early January, whisking visitors back to 14th-century Portugal with medieval music, stalls and special exhibitions

February

• Carnival Parade (Carnaval) - with floats, costumes, dancing and a street-party atmosphere taking the Algarve to a new high. The best celebrations are generally held in Loulé

March

• Easter (Páscoa) - late March / early April, regular religious observances are held leading up to Easter, with special Masses to mark Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday

April

• Liberation Day / Freedom Day (Dia da Liberdade) - April 25th, the community stages live music, entertainment, sport and fireworks, all of which attract large crowds

May

• Labour Day - May 1st, celebrated in Paderne with a street fair and various exhibitions
• IberoVespa - the city hosts the largest gathering of Vespa enthusiasts in the whole of Portugal

June

• Balloons Meeting - mid-June, around 20 hot-air balloons take to the sky in Albufeira, while an evening 'Night Glow' takes place at Fisherman's Beach
• Popular Parades - thousand join processionals and parades at the municipal stadium. This popular summer event includes traditional cuisine and a concert

July

• BBQ Chicken Festival (Fiesta do Frango no Churrasco) - a three-day festival featuring plenty of barbecue chicken
• Handicrafts Fair (Feira de Artesanato de Albufeira) - a nine-day event with traditional music and a range of handicrafts on display
• Al-buhera Festival - late July, a cultural show lasting five days, with handicrafts for sale, music and dance, exhibitions and great food

August

• Folklore Festival - held in Olhos de Agua in August, this interesting event lasts several days
• Festival of Our Lady of Guia (Festa de Nossa Senhora da Guia) - begins with a special mass and rounds out with a procession and live entertainment in the evening
• Festival of Our Lady of the Oracle (Festa da Ourada) - August 14th, a real highlight, paying tribute to the patron saint of fisherman, Nossa Senhora da Ourada, with a lengthy parade starting at the parish church and taking in the seafront promenade. At midnight, fireworks illuminate the sky above the Praia dos Pescadores
• Sardine Festival - based in Olhos de Agua, staged over a four-day period and featuring what seems to be an endless supply of freshly cooked sardines
• Municipal Holiday - August 20th, the official holiday of Albufeira, with lots of entertainment, sporting events and a spectacular fireworks display when the sun sets

September

• Fisherman's Festival (Festa do Pescador) - held for two days at Fisherman's Beach, with plenty of fresh fish and activities for all ages
• Festival of the 'Beatified Vicente' (Festa do Beato Vicente) - honouring the patron saint, with a special Mass, processions, evening entertainment and fireworks
• World Tourism Day - September 27th, the city showcases all that it has to offer tourists

October

• Portuguese Republic Day - October 5th, a national holiday celebrating the founding of the republican government in 1910
• Guia Annual Fair (Feira da Guia) - a traditional folk fair featuring handicrafts, jewellery and clothing for sale

November

• Amateur Fado Contest - late October, several days' worth of atmospheric traditional Portuguese folk songs, most with sad overtones

December

• Independence Day - December 1st, locals celebrate the nation's independence with a day off work and family gatherings
• Christmas (Natal) - the entire month of December is festive, with Yuletide concerts, special Masses, processions and New Year's Eve fireworks programmes