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Silver Coast Festivals
- a celebration for every occasion
On the Silver Coast there is a festival for every occasion. The major events draw thousands of visitors from all over the country but there are literally dozens of smaller ones throughout the year, with even the smallest villages staging their own. The Silver Coast What's On Guide has details.
Just outside of the Silver Coast region there are two other festivals worth mentioning. Of curiosity value is the National Horse Fair in Golegă, inland from Santarém, which coincides with the celebrations of St. Martin’s Day (Nov 11). The fair draws horse enthusiasts from all over the world and is a spectacle in itself, with a bull-run complete with grooms in red waistcoats and a range of equestrian events, exhibitions and parades.
Party town
The medieval town of Óbidos makes full use of its historic lanes and dramatic setting by staging three big festivals and several smaller ones during the year. One of the most spectacular is the fortnight-long Medieval Market in July when the town is transformed with horse displays, medieval shows and actors in costume mingling with the crowds and acting out the parts of medieval citizens.
In the month before Christmas Óbidos is transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with snow machines, ski slope and skating rink, for Vila Natal (Christmas town). And then in March it takes on a sweetness for the International Chocolate Festival, which attracted over 200,000 visitors in 2010.
Carnaval
During carnival time (spelt carnaval in Portugal) the whole Silver Coast region becomes one giant festival with parades and parties in every city and town. The biggest and best known are the Peniche and Torres Vedras carnivals, but all are spectacular and very entertaining to watch.
At other times of the year there are food and wine festivals throughout the Silver Coast
The medieval town of Óbidos makes full use of its historic lanes and dramatic setting by staging three big festivals and several smaller ones during the year. One of the most spectacular is the fortnight-long Medieval Market in July when the town is transformed with horse displays, medieval shows and actors in costume mingling with the crowds and acting out the parts of medieval citizens.
In the month before Christmas Óbidos is transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with snow machines, ski slope and skating rink, for Vila Natal (Christmas town). And then in March it takes on a sweetness for the International Chocolate Festival, which attracted over 200,000 visitors in 2010.
Carnaval
During carnival time (spelt carnaval in Portugal) the whole Silver Coast region becomes one giant festival with parades and parties in every city and town. The biggest and best known are the Peniche and Torres Vedras carnivals, but all are spectacular and very entertaining to watch.
At other times of the year there are food and wine festivals throughout the Silver Coast
region in places such as Bombarral, Caldas da Rainha, Peniche, Alenquer and Sobral. There are also many religious festivals. The biggest of these take place during important religious celebrations like Easter and Christmas, but each village and town also has a saint day of their own which is celebrated with festivities that can last as long as a week.
Saints and Horses
One of the biggest festivals in the country is Lisbon’s Festas dos Santos Populares, a two-week long festival that celebrates three saints, one after the other. During the fortnight the city becomes party capital with music and dancing in the streets. At the final party, held on St Anthony’s day (Jun 13) in Avenida da Liberdade, the crowds dance until dawn to the music of the samba bands.