EVENTS 2008
January 2008
 Euromillions Lisboa-Dakar
Place: Lisbon
Date: 02/01/08 - 20/01/08
In January 2008, Lisbon will once again host the start of the Dakar Rally.
Organisers and participants in last year's edition were unanimous in affirming the excellent welcome they received in the "white city", above all due to the enthusiastic participation of the general public, which was a key factor in choosing Lisbon as the start venue for the Dakar Rally for the second year running.
With a huge international participation, this major sporting event will span a succession of unforgettable landscapes in Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal.
The European lottery, Euromillions, represented in Portugal by the company, Jogos Santa Casa, is the official sponsor of the Lisboa-Dakar, the world's most prestigious raid Rally.
Info: http://www.dakar.com
February 2008
 Chocolate Festival
Place: Óbidos
Date: 14/02/08 - 24/02/08
Anyone with a sweet tooth and a penchant for chocolate shouldn't miss the chance to take part in the International Chocolate Festival in Óbidos.
During the festival, the medieval town's narrow streets are transformed into genuine showcases of cakes and sweets that everyone can sample and purchase.
For younger visitors, the "Kids' Chocolate House" offers recreational activities and a kitchen where they can prepare several recipes.
Adults can attend culinary classes where chocolate is always the main base ingredient and also watch competitions involving professional pastry makers, such as the "Chocolatier of the Year" and the "International Competition of Chocolate Recipes" as well as marvel at the array of chocolate sculptures which are real genuine works of art.
Info: http://www.festivalchocolate.cm-obidos.pt
 Fantasporto - Oporto International Film Festival
Place: Porto
Date: 25/02/08 - 09/03/08
Prepare for the Fantasporto fantasy, Oporto International Fantasy Film Festival, in February and March.
The city is inundated with the imaginary, the fantastic and science fiction during Fantasporto, considered to be one of the best of this kind in the world.
Info: http://www.fantasporto.online.pt
March 2008
 Portugal Open
Date: To Be Announced
The Golf Open is the main international golf competition held in Portugal and is part of the calendar of the PGA European Tour circuit.
Contested on Portugal's best golf courses, under blue skies, it is an opportunity to see all the best of the well known players.
 Madeira Island Open
Place: Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra
Date: To Be Announced
The Madeira Island Golf Open, which is part of the main PGA European Tour, is held at Santo da Serra Golf Club in March.
The Madeira Island Golf Open is an event in the European calendar and every year attracts some of the world's best players.
Info: http://www.santodaserragolf.com - http://www.madeiraislands.travel
 Holy Week Festivals
Place: Braga
Date: 20/03/08 - 23/03/08
Experience Holy Week in the ancient city of Braga, in the region of Porto e Norte.
The city is decorated with motifs related to the occasion and the passos, street-side altars, are filled with flowers and lights, complementing the sumptuousness of the churches.
Info: http://www.semanasantabraga.com
April 2008
 Madeira Flower Festival
Place: Funchal
Date: 05/04/08 - 06/04/08
Be amazed by the wonderful Flower Festival in Funchal, Madeira in April. Streets are strewn with floral carpets and shop windows decked with flowers which create a unique and unforgettable atmosphere in the town.
Be sure to visit the Flower Show in Largo da Restauração, where you will be surprised by the creativeness of the Madeira flower growers.
Info: http://www.madeiraislands.travel
 Festivals of the Holy Spirit
Place: Azores
Date: To Be Announced
Discover the Festivals of the Holy Ghost in the Azores, held especially in Terceira and also in São Jorge and Pico, which attracts huge numbers of visitors to the islands.
An emperor, usually a child, is crowned and presented with a sceptre on a silver plate, symbolising the Holy Ghost, presides over the festivals every Sunday for seven weeks after Easter.
Info: http://www.visitazores.org
 Indie Lisboa - International Independent Film Festival
Place: Lisbon
Date: 24/04/08 - 04/05/08
In April, discover the new films at the Indie Lisboa, Lisbon's International Independent Film Festival.
The Festival is the best place to discover new artists and the trends in the world cinema.
Info: http://www.indielisboa.com
 Festivals of the Lord Jesus Christ
Place: Ponta Delgada - São Miguel
Date: To Be Announced
In São Miguel, in the Azores, witness the Festivals of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The image of the Convento da Esperança, in Ponta Delgada, is paraded on the fifth Sunday after Easter, with much fanfare and torchlight.
 World Powerboat Championship - Formula 2000
Place: Vila Real de Santo António
Date: To Be Announced
In April, you can enjoy the thrilling excitement of speed as you watch one of the stages of the Formula 2000 World Powerboat Championship at Vila Real de Santo António.
There will be 24 boats from a wide range of countries taking part in the different events: Match-Race, Speed-Record and a pure speed race lasting about 35 minutes. Equipped with 1998cc engines, these boats can reach speeds of 180 km/h, so you can certainly expect a spectacular show on the estuary of the River Guadiana that will have your heart racing.
May 2008
 Festivity of the Crosses or the Festivity of the Castle
Place: Monsanto
Date: 03/05/08 - 06/05/08
Every year in May, Monsanto celebrates the Festivity of the Crosses, also known as the Festivity of the Castle, that recalls the local population's heroic resistance to a siege.
According to tradition, the population sought refuge in the castle in the second century B.C., and resisted a siege by the Romans during 7 years. In order to convince the enemy that they would never surrender as a result of hunger, they decided to throw a heifer down the mountain slope, that they claimed had been fed on leftovers, This strategy fooled the attackers and led them to end the siege.
The inhabitants of the village recall this episode on 3 May (the day of the Holy Cross) or on the following Sunday. They ascend the castle, singing and dancing to the sound of tamborines and then once perched on top of the walls, throw down clay pots symbolising the heifer decorated with flowers, in a highly coloured festivity.
 Estoril Open
Place: Estádio Nacional
Date: To Be Announced
The Estoril Open, which takes place in May, is one of the rare world tennis events to combine at the same time tournaments that count towards the official classifications of the ATP and the WTA Tour.
Holding the two competitions in a single event at the Jamor Tennis Club places the Portuguese tournament at a select level with only 13 other events.
Info: http://www.estorilopen.net
 Grand Prix F1 Power Boat World Championship
Place: Portimão
Date: To Be Announced
This is the first event to be held in Europe in the F1 Power Boat World Championship bringing together some of the leading drivers and teams in the sport.
As it is the largest sports event to be held in Portimão and also a unique event in Portugal, the Grand Prix will bring moments of high tension and excitement to the estuary of the River Arade, transforming the riverside area of Portimão into a natural amphitheatre, where thousands of people will watch the racing.
Info: http://www.,visitalgarve.pt
 Burning of the Ribbons
Place: Coimbra
Date: To Be Announced
Witness the Burning of the Ribbons, an academic tradition going back centuries, that takes place in Coimbra in May.
Parades, dancing and serenades fill the streets of the city, one of the oldest university towns in Europe.
Info: http://www.turismo-centro-pt - http://www.queimadafitas.org
 Islamic Festival
Place: Mértola
Date: To Be Announced
In all uneven numbered years, Mértola recalls its Arab past in the Islamic Festival that fills the town streets with colour in the month of May.
During the Festival, Mértola returns to an era located between the 8th and 13th centuries in which it was the capital of a Taifa kingdom and an important commercial port in the routes between the Iberian peninsula and North Africa.
Arab dancers and musicans exhibit their arts, artisans produce and sell their artefacts in a busy market and chefs prepare titbits from traditional Muslim gastronomy, such as couscous accompanied by mint tea.
Info: http://www.cm-mertola.pt
 International Puppets Biennial
Place: Évora
Date: To Be Announced
Once every two years in May, the historical cenre of Evora - a world heritage site by UNESCO - is invaded by puppets from various countries.
Considered to be one of Europe's most important puppet festivals, the Evora International Puppet Festival, held since 1987, is attended by puppet companies from thoughout the world.
The event is organised by Cendrev (the Evora Drama Centre), a company that has recovered the tradition of the puppets from Santo Aleixo, which are traditional puppets from the Alentejo, dating back to the 18th century, and represents a classical example of popular culture.
Info: http://www.cendrev.com
 FIMFA - International Festival of Puppets and Animated Forms
Place: Lisboa
Date: To Be Announced
In May and June, FIMFA brings puppets from throughout the world to Lisbon.
Professional puppet companies from various countries with recognised merit present their latest creations in an innovative programme, targeted at various groups of the public and age groups.
As well as the puppet theatre shows, exhibitions and workshops are held all related to the theme.
Info: http://www.tarumba.org
June 2008
 Popular Saints - Feast of St. Anthony
Place: Lisbon
Date: 01/06/08 - 30/06/08
Come to the party in Lisbon on 12th June, the eve of St. Anthony's Day, join in the festivities in the city's historical districts.
The neighbourhoods of Alfama, Castelo, Mouraia and Bairro Alto are filled with music and colour to celebrate the birth in Lisbon of St. Anthony.
Info: http://www.atl-turismolisboa.pt
 Feasts of São João
Place: Porto
Date: 01/06/08 - 30/06/08
Celebrate the feasts of São João, the most revered saint of Oporto, held on the night of 23rd June.
The feast of São João, of pagan origin and associated with celebrations of the summer solstice, are marked by dancing, eating and fireworks.
Info: http://www.portoturismo.pt
 Atlantic Festival
Place: Ilha da Madeira
Date: To Be Announced
The Atlantic Festival is an important event that combines entertainment and culture.
The festival presents high quality classical and erudite music at some of the region's best venues, such as Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias, Casa das Mudas in Calheta and a number of churches.
The Festival has acquired even greater importance with the introduction in recent years of the International Fireworks Competition, in which contestants organise firework displays to accompany the music on Saturdays in June. Take advantage of this opportunity to come and visit Madeira when it is in its festive mood.
Info: http://www.madeiraislands.travel
 Cool Jazz Festival
Place: Oeiras - Jardins do Marquês de Pombal, Casa da Pesca;
Mafra - Jardim do Cerco; Cascais - Jardins do Casino do Estoril
Date: To Be Announced
Do summer nights, beautiful gardens and excellent music sound like the perfect combination?
High quality and high mix is the motto of the Cool Jazz Festival that presents leading comtemporary singers and instrumentalists in unique locations near to Lisbon. The performances are held in stunning open-air locations, such as the walled gardens in Mafra, the Estoril Casino's gardens and the gardens of the Palace of the Marquis of Pombal and the Fishing House in Oeiras.
Before or after the shows, make sure you take the opportunity to learn more about the region. As these were the pleasure grounds for kings and noblemen. There are plenty of attractions, beautiful palaces, museums, busy and quiet beaches, many fine restaurants and lots of amusements. You won't want to leave!
Info: http://www.cooljazzfest.com
 SATA Rallye Azores
Place: Ilha de São Miguel
Date: To Be Announced
At the end of June, the Azores SATA Rally will be hosted along some of the most beautiful roads on the island of São Miguel.
The Azores Rally has been held for over 40 years and is one of the most important legs in the ground stage of the National Championship, its rankings contribute to the European Rally Cup organised by the FIA (the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
The competitive event begins at the Portas da Cidade (gates of the city) of Ponta Delgada and is a genuine tourist itinerary as it passes some of the very best sights of the island, such as the Lagoon of Sete Cidades and highlights the beauty of the island.
Info: http://www.gdc.pt
 Super Bock Super Rock Festival
Place: Parque ds Nações (Metro: Oriente)
Date: To Be Announced
Here the very best music at the Super Bock Super Rock Festival to be held in Lisbon in July/July.
Pop, rock, hip-hop and funk are just some of the sounds you can expect to hear at the festival. You can see your favourite bands here during this three-day festival. At the same time, take the opportunity to discover Lisbon and its innovative and talented music scenes.
Info: http://www.superbocksuperrock.net
 Festroia
Place: Setúbal
Date: To Be Announced
In June, don't miss the opportunity to visit the Trója International Film Festival and watch some really high quality films that rarely ever enter the commercial circuit.
Over two decades Festroia has consolidated its reputation in Portugal and abroad and brought leading names from the world of cinema to the festival, such as Pedro Almodóvar, Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall and Dennis Hopper.
With various screenings taking place in different cinemas in the Setúbal district, Festroia includes four competitive sections, numerous premieres and short films that have been nominated for European film prizes.
Take the opportunity also to see the spectacular scenery of the Serra da Arrábida Natural Park, or go for a swim in the crystal clear waters of the region's many beaches.
Info: http://www.festroia.pt
 Sintra Festival
Place: Sintra
Date: To Be Announced
See music and dance performances in a royal palace during the Sintra Festival in June and July.
Here you can appreciate some of the most important classical works of music and dance in a unique and romantic surroundings.
Info: http://www.cm-sintra.pt
July 2008
 MusicAtlântico Festival
Place: Azores
Date: To Be Announced
In the Summer, every July, the Festival MúsicaAtlântico (Atlantic Music Festival) brings life and entertainment to the nine islands of the Azores with performances, concerts and recitals from various different musical genres.
This is an opportunity go learn about the works of the Portuguese musicians, singers and conductors and to experience and hear many of the leading international musicians and groups.
 Festa dos Tabuleiros (Festival of the Trays)
Place: Tomar
Date: To Be Announced
The Festival of the Trays takes place every four years, so plan your visit to Tomar for July 2011 to witness this unique event.
The blessing of the trays, the street decorations, the quilts in the windows and the throwing of flowers over the processions of the trays carried by hundreds of young girls on their heads, is an unforgettable sight and event.
 European Jet Ski Championship
Place: Mirandela
Date: To Be Announced
If you are a fan of Jet Skiing, they why not visit Mirandela in July to watch the European Grand Prix being held on the River Tua.
This stage of the European Championship is one of the most highly regarded and prestigious of events at international level due to its unique conditions provided by the mirror-like sheet of water in the heart of the city of Mirandela.
Competed for by some of the very best of the world's top jet skiers, thi event attracts thousands of spectators, who watch from the river banks and follow the racing with great enthusiasm.
 Nikki Beach Parties
Place: Portimão - Hotel Tivoli Arade; Vilamoura - Tivoli Marinotel
Date: 12/07/08 - 30/09/08
Surrender to the seduction of this summer season's lifestyle and glamour at the Nikki Beach Parties to be held in Portimão and Vilamoura.
Nikki Beach is coming to Portugal this year and as part of the Allgarve Programme. With spaces in Vilamoura and Portimão - in the Tivoli Marinotel and the Tivoli Arade, Nikki Beach has been classified by the "Observer" as the "sexiest party on earth". Designed in a simple and elegant manner, Nikki Beach Parties bring together leading personalities from the different worlds of sport music, the arts and society.
In addition to the Algarve, Nikki Beach is also present in some of the world's most glamorous cities such as Miami, Hollywood, Staint-Tropez, Marbella, Cabo San Lucas, Sardinia, Marrakech and New York.
Info: http://www.tivoli.pt
 Festas da Ria
Place: Aveiro
Date: To Be Announced
If you are in the centre of Portugal in either July or August, don't miss the Festas da Ria (Festivity of the Estuary), which brings life and animation to the city of Aveiro.
Given its vital role in the life of the region, the Ria estuary has a Festivity especially dedicated to it. The high point of the event is the regatta of seaweed boats, colourful seaweed fishing vessels that are dedicated to catching seaweed vegetation from the estuary, which constitutes on of the local population's traditional economic activities in the area.
The event's programme includes performances, exhibitions, sports, handicrafts and gastronomy exhibitions.
Info: http://www.rotadaluz.pt
 Medieval Market
Place: Óbidos
Date: To Be Announced
In July, be sure to visit the Obidos medieval market and take a trip back in time.
Surrounded by high walls, Obidos is the ideal setting for hundreds of extras and actors, fully dressed in medieval costumes, who bring the town's streets to life as they portray noblemen, beggars, mule-drivers, jugglers, musicians, jesters and dancers.
the main site of the entertainment events is located next to the castle, which will be the location of jousting tournaments, on horse and on foot, medieval dinners and a market where everything is sold from medieval costumes to traditional home-made medical remedies.
Info: http://www.cm-obidos.pt
 Estoril Jazz - Jazz on a Summer Day
Place: Auditório Parque Palmela - Cascais
Date: To Be Announced
See jazz concerts during Estoril Jazz and be seduced by the cosmopolitan glamour of Estoril.
Top international musicians and groups, especially from North America, perform at this festival held in July.
Info: http://www.projazz.pt
 Citemor - Festival of Montemor-o-Velho
Place: Montemor-o-Velho
Date: To Be Announced
Portugal's oldest theatre festival is held each year between July and August and brings theatre companies from various countries to Montemor-o-Velho.
With performances in various parts of the city, Citemor is now much more than just a theatre festival and also integrates other arts such as cinema, dance, music, video and has also included an experimental television station with daily broadcasts.
Info: http://www.citemor.com
 Estoril Music Weeks
Place: Estoril
Date: To Be Announced
The Estoril Music Weeks have helped to publicise all the new styles and recent creations, so don't miss this event, which is held in July and August in Estoril.
The event is a result of merging the International Music Courses, the Music Festivaland the Estoril Concert Contest.
Info: http://www.estorilfestival.net
 Festivities of the Holy Queen
Place: Coimbra
Date: 01/07/08 - 31/07/08
In even numbered years, Coimbra celebrates the festivities of its patron saint - the Holy Queen Isabel.
The festivities last around one month and include various performances, exhibitions, gastronomy and handicrafts fairs, sporting competitions and lots and lots of entertainment.
The high point is the solemn procession dedicated to the Holy Queen in which the wooden framework carrying her effigy, which weighs around 1 ton, is transported by 24 men through the main streets of the city between Graça Church and the Convent of Santa Clara-a-Nova, following a trajectory that Queen Isabel de Aragão herself walked down many times when she lived in Coimbra in the 14th Century.
 Óbidos International Piano Week
Place: Óbidos
Date: To Be Announced
In July and August, the medieval town of Obidos is filled with piano music.
Young music students from all over the world take part in the Obidos International Piano Week in order to perfect their knowledge with the great masters.
Info: http://www.pianobidos.org
 Kitesurf World Championships Portimão
Place: Praia do Alvor - Portimão
Date: To Be Announced
Prepare to be blown away by the spectacular manoevres of the world's finest kite surfers who will fly and glide over the sea in Portimão in July.
At the end of July, the Praia do Alvor will host another stage of the Kitesurf World Championship organised by PKRA (Professional Kite Riders Association) and will be attended by some of the world's leading male and female athletes who take part in two events - the main Freestyle competition and the secondary Regatta event.
With increasing popular support among young people, the kitesurf championship brings various entertainment activities to the sites where it is held in Portimão including late-night entertainment in Praia do Alvor and Praia da Rocha.
Info: http://ww.kiteportimao.info and http://www.allgarve.pt
 Monsaraz - Open-air Museum
Place: Monsaraz
Date: To Be Announced
Visit Monsaraz in the Summer when this medieval town of schist and lime turns into an open-air museum.
Let yourself be enchanted by Monsaraz - Open-air Museum. There are art exhibitions and performances of music, theatre and dance.
 Évora Clássica Festival
Place: Évora
Date: To Be Announced
Experience the Évora Clássica Festival, a classical music event held every year during the Summer in the city of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Info: http://www.festivalevoraclassica.com
August 2008
 Festas Gualterianas
Place: Guimarães
Date: To Be Announced
If you visit Guimarães during the first weekend of August, then you will be able to enjoy the Festat Gualterianas, which brings great life and entertainment to this city and has done so for more than a century.
The highlight of the celebrationsis the procession held in honour of São Gualter (St. Walter). This takes place on the Sunday, but there is a vast programme of entertainment which includes more than enough activities to appeal to everyone. There is also a historical parade, a battle fought with flowers, bullfighting, fireworks and lots of live music.
Info: http://www.guimaraesturismo.com
 Silves Medieval Fair
Place: Silves
Date: To Be Announced
Visit Silves in August and see how the Moors and Christians lived in the Middle Ages.
During a seven-day period, Silves (capital of the Algarve during the Arab occupation) returns to its golden age. In a historical recreation of the Christian Reconquest era, the city is invaded by characters from the distant past, including jugglers, acrobats, dancers, snake charmers who exhibit their many skills.
Don't miss the opportunity to see a live-in action history lesson that includes processions of noblemen, jousting tournaments and artisans and merchants offering their wares.
TMN Sudoeste Festival
 Place: Zambujeira do Mar
Date: To Be Announced
The TMN Sudoeste (Southwest) Festival is the biggest summer festival in Portugal. It takes place in August in Zabujeira do Mar, a fishing town on the Alentejo coast famous for its beautiful beaches and mild temperatures.
For four days there are performances by bands of various types. The show carries on through to the early hours and onwards with lots of electronic music.
Info: http://www.musicanocoracao.pt
 Jazz in August
Place: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian - Lisbon
Date: To Be Announced
Attend open-air jazz concerts during Jazz in August, held at the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian in Lisbon.
Jazz in August shows the multiple identities of jazz and has a more unusual programme than what is offered at the more main international festivals.
Info: http://www.musica.gulbenkian.pt/jazz/
 Paredes de Coura Festival
Place: Praia do Tabuão - Paredes de Coura
Date: To Be Announced
In August, don't miss the four-day Paredes de Coura Festival.
Lots of bands playing mainly alternative rock, perform in a natural amphitheatre at the river beach of Tabuão, near to the town of Paredes de Coura in the region of Oporto and the North.
Info: http://www.paredesdecoura.com
 Handgliding Open
Place: Linhares da Beira
Date: To Be Announced
Visit the historic town of Linhares da Beira in August and also experience and observe the Handgliding Open - the oldest competition dedicated to this sport in Portugal.
Due to its exceptional location on a plateau, Linhares da Beira is one of the finest locations in Portugal for practicing handgliding and the activity is actively promoted by the various schools and clubs located in the area. A great event where you will see the skies filled with their colourful wings, especially durig the Summer.
Info: http://www.parapentelinhares.serradaestrela.com
 Rally Vinho da Madeira
Place: Ilha da Madeira
Date: To Be Announced
The European Rally Championship is hosted in the spectacular landscapes of the island of Madeira in early August.
The European Rally Championship is the oldest international competition organised by the FIA (the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), and includes 10 events in 10 European countries. The Madeira Wine rally is one of the most important events in the championship and is the region's biggest automobile event, attracting thousands of spectators to the mountainous areas in search of better places to watch the vehicles as they thunder by.
The rally is named after one of the main products of Madeira, the liqueur wine that was already highly popular in European courts in the 18th Century due to its unique aroma and flavour.
Info: http://www.ralivm.com and http://www.madeiraislands.travel
 Feira de São Mateus
Place: Viseu
Date: To Be Announced
This Viseu fair dates back to medieval times and has grown over the years to include lots of music, folklore, handicraft, gastronomy and lots of entertainment.
Don't miss all the colours and the sounds of the concerts and shows that can be seen on the specially built stage, show jumping at the Horse-Riding Centre, bicycle tours, fishing competitions, parachuting and aerobatic displays at the Aeródrome Gonçalves Lobato, as well as other athletic events and lots of entertainment to be enjoyed by all.
All this can be found at Campo da Feira de São Mateus, right in the heart of Viseu.
Info: http://www.expovis.pt and http://rtdaolafoes.com
 Festival Maré de Agosto
Place: Santa Maria
Date: To Be Announced
In the magical Bay of Praia Formosa in the island of Santa Maria, the International Festival of Music "August Tide" (Maré de Agosto) brings together leading names from various countries.
A stage located 20 metres from the sea, hosts performances by leading names from the national and international musical arena. There is a wide array of aesthetic currents of "world music" represented in this very renowned and high-quality event, that has already celebrated 20 editions.
Info: http://www.maredeagosto.com
 Sea Week
Place: Horta - Faial
Date: To Be Announced
During one week in August, the sea is the underlying theme for the year's most important event on the island of Faial.
The nautical Festival is the main event within the Sea Week and includes sporting competitions, such as swimming, diving, water polo, sail and whaleboat regattas, rowing, canoeing, jet skiing and angling.
On land, the animation is complemented by music and folklore performances, exhibitions, handicrafts and gastronomy fairs. The week culminates with a grandiose fireworks display over the Bay of Horta.
Info: http://www.cmhorta.pt
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