At least eight countries celebrate their Independence or National Day in August; the UK has its Glorious Twelfth when the grouse hunting opens, Amsterdam celebrates its Gay Pride parade on the canals and the Algarve lays on a bumper month of entertainment. Take a deep breath - here are just some of the fairs, festivals and other fun stuff going on in our wonderful sunshine.
Ongoing
The musically-influenced sand sculptures in Pêra are open until the 25th October and are not to be missed.
Ticket prices:
Up to 5 years old – free
From 6-12 years old €4.50
Adults €9 and for those over 65 years old there is a 15% discount.
For more information visit the website
or call 282 317 084.
Faro is laying on their annual Ria Formosa Festival from 31st July to 10th August and the shellfish are waiting to tempt you from 7pm to 2am each evening. Entry is free and there’s entertainment laid on each night. Not only are the fabulous shellfish there in all kinds of delicious dishes, there are also drinks stalls, dessert stalls, a children’s playground and much more. This all takes place at Largo S. Fransisco in the old town.
For more information you can call 289 802 886 / 938 360 706.
The Moors are back!
Silves, the ancient capital of the Algarve is once more hosting its Medieval Festival at the enormous castle in the centre of town. From 8th to 17th August there will be re-enactments of the days of the Moors, belly dancers, medieval costumes for hire, fire eaters, jousting contests and of course the food; the fabulous food of those days!
For more information phone 282 440 800.
Castro Marim is hosting a huge Medieval Days Festival on 28th to 31st August; bringing back the days of the Moors and how things were!
With jousting and jugglers, camels and falconry, artisans of the day and fireworks of the night. This is a fantastic time for the whole family.
For more information call 281 510 160.
Fairs and fun
Fatacil de Lagoa
Once again (for the 35th time) Lagoacountry fair will be going full blast. The dates are 15th to 24th August and this year the organizers have reduced the entry fee to €3.50 or €12.50 for a family of four.
Featuring all the latest and greatest that’s on offer for home, garden and office; livestock and farming machinery will be there too, as well as hundreds of stalls selling everything from clothes and accessories to holidays and currency exchange. You’re sure to find something of interest here. Plenty of food and entertainment are also the orders of the day!
To find out more go to the Fatacil website or call Amabélio Pereira on 289 842 929.
FolkFaro 2014
Faro’s annual Folklore Fair will be taking place from 16th to 24th August this year; promoting the traditions and identities of different countries, with a gala show, open air performances, international parades and much more. This event includes programmes for all ages, from children to the elderly – there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss it.
Visit FolkFaro’s official website or call Amabélio Pereira on 962 556 599.
Celebrations
On the 14th August, Albufeira will be holding a mass at the Igreja de Matriz, which will be followed by the traditional procession to the Fisherman’s Beach and back, to honour Our Lady of the Oracle (the patron Saint of fishermen). Music and fireworks will end the day.
Staying in Albufeira, the 20th August is Municipal Day which is a public holiday in the town. This makes for a real family outing with sports, entertainment for all ages and a grand finale of fireworks to thrill the crowds.
Festa de Banho - Lagos
There was an old tradition when villagers came down from the hills each 29th August to spend the night on the beach with their picnics; at midnight they would take a dip in the sea to signify the end of summer. Over the years this has turned into a big party time with revellers meeting at Batata, Meia and Duno beaches in Lagos, where there’ll be food, drinks, fun and games. Of course there’s swimming in the sea after sunset and the party goes on all night. This is definitely the place to be for the young at heart!
Food, glorious food!
Festa do Frango - Guia
The annual Chicken Festa in Guia will be held on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd August this year. Guiais famous for its traditional piripiri chicken and quite rightly so; they are masters of the BBQ. During this three day festival, the whole town will turn out to grill chicken, local entertainers will add to the atmosphere and stall holders selling local crafts will show the Algarve at its best.
Festival do Marisco - Olhão
Olhão is hosting their 29th Seafood Festival from the 9th to 14th August at the Jardim Pescador (Fishermans Gardens). Featuring every type of shellfish and seafood as well as cataplanas, paellas, and Algarvean stews, the hundreds of stalls cater for every taste. This is the biggest such festival in Portugal and people come from all over the country and indeed the world to participate.
Of course there is live entertainment, singing and dancing, activities for kids and plenty of stalls filled with sweets, deserts, local handicrafts and much more. The atmosphere is electric and the food is fabulous.
This year tickets are €9 between the 9th to the 13th August and €12 on August the 14th when Anselmo Ralph will be entertaining the crowds. Children of six and under are free and €4 for children aged seven to twelve.
Ticket booths open at 6.30pm and the festival starts at 7.30pm, finishing at 1am.
Sardine Festival - Portimão
The river front in Portimão is the place to be between 13th and 17th August for the best sardines in the world. Each evening from 7pm to 1am the BBQ’s will be hot, hot, hot, as they grill thousands of sardines for the happy crowds. This is one of the biggest sardine festivals in the world, and people will be arriving from all over the globe to get their teeth into this tasty fish. Naturally, there will be all kinds of entertainment going on for all ages, as well as many additional stalls selling lots of handicrafts, desserts, sweeties and much more.
If you need more information call 282 003 225.
Sardine Festival – Olhos d’ Agua - Albufeira
On a smaller scale, but no less delicious, the 17th Olhos de Água Sardine Festival will be taking place on 7th – 9th August at Largo dos Pescadores in Olhos de Água from 8pm. By 10pm the party will really get going with music and dancing, ending with a firework display on the last night.
Playtime
The 9th beach volleyball tournament is taking place at the sports area on Praia da Rocha in Portimão on the 23rd and 24th August, starting at 10am. This should be a fun day out and if you get too hot, well a dip in the sea will be called for!
Vale de Lobo is holding its annual Grand Tennis Champions tournament this August, featuring some of the world’s top senior tennis players. If you would like to watch this exciting event, here are the contact details:
The prestigious Monte Rei Golf and Country Club, is hosting a charity golf challenge in aid of the Algarve Oncology Association (AOA), on Saturday 30th August. Now here is a chance to play the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Europe and all for a good cause.
The fee is €135 per player and if you call 967 226 280 you will get all the information you need.
Music with a difference
Now for a drop of nostalgia! TheRoyal British Legion’s Portugal Branch is planning to recapture the spirit of British life during the two Great Wars with “An Evening of Song & Cheer” to mark the centenary of the First World War. This event is taking place on 2nd August at 7pm in the village of Almadena near Luz.
Tickets are €15 for RBL members and €18 for non-members. They are available from: Almadena Social Centre, or Bar 6, and the price includes dinner. A cash bar is available on the night.
There’s a didgeridoo festival happening from 14th to 17th August at Sitio das Fontesin Estõmbar. This event is organised by the Portuguese Association Didgeridoo (PAD) and will include a multitude of activities for all ages. Of course there will be music, dancing and an area dedicated for children to play.
August in the Algarve is the busiest month of the year for our social calendars and the events listed here represent a mere fraction of all the activities and entertainment going on. It would be marvellous to be able to participate in all these wonderful occasions, but I find it impossible to find enough hours in the days and nights to manage them all. Who said retirement is a time of rest and reflection?
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.
Things to do in the Algarve in August
by Sun’s Dragon
At least eight countries celebrate their Independence or National Day in August; the UK has its Glorious Twelfth when the grouse hunting opens, Amsterdam celebrates its Gay Pride parade on the canals and the Algarve lays on a bumper month of entertainment. Take a deep breath - here are just some of the fairs, festivals and other fun stuff going on in our wonderful sunshine.
Ongoing
The musically-influenced sand sculptures in Pêra are open until the 25th October and are not to be missed.
Ticket prices:
Up to 5 years old – free
From 6-12 years old €4.50
Adults €9 and for those over 65 years old there is a 15% discount.
For more information visit the website
or call 282 317 084.
Faro is laying on their annual Ria Formosa Festival from 31st July to 10th August and the shellfish are waiting to tempt you from 7pm to 2am each evening. Entry is free and there’s entertainment laid on each night. Not only are the fabulous shellfish there in all kinds of delicious dishes, there are also drinks stalls, dessert stalls, a children’s playground and much more. This all takes place at Largo S. Fransisco in the old town.
For more information you can call 289 802 886 / 938 360 706.
The Moors are back!
Silves, the ancient capital of the Algarve is once more hosting its Medieval Festival at the enormous castle in the centre of town. From 8th to 17th August there will be re-enactments of the days of the Moors, belly dancers, medieval costumes for hire, fire eaters, jousting contests and of course the food; the fabulous food of those days!
For more information phone 282 440 800.
Castro Marim is hosting a huge Medieval Days Festival on 28th to 31st August; bringing back the days of the Moors and how things were!
With jousting and jugglers, camels and falconry, artisans of the day and fireworks of the night. This is a fantastic time for the whole family.
For more information call 281 510 160.
Fairs and fun
Fatacil de Lagoa
Once again (for the 35th time) Lagoa country fair will be going full blast. The dates are 15th to 24th August and this year the organizers have reduced the entry fee to €3.50 or €12.50 for a family of four.
Featuring all the latest and greatest that’s on offer for home, garden and office; livestock and farming machinery will be there too, as well as hundreds of stalls selling everything from clothes and accessories to holidays and currency exchange. You’re sure to find something of interest here. Plenty of food and entertainment are also the orders of the day!
To find out more go to the Fatacil website or call Amabélio Pereira on 289 842 929.
FolkFaro 2014
Faro’s annual Folklore Fair will be taking place from 16th to 24th August this year; promoting the traditions and identities of different countries, with a gala show, open air performances, international parades and much more. This event includes programmes for all ages, from children to the elderly – there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss it.
Visit FolkFaro’s official website or call Amabélio Pereira on 962 556 599.
Celebrations
On the 14th August, Albufeira will be holding a mass at the Igreja de Matriz, which will be followed by the traditional procession to the Fisherman’s Beach and back, to honour Our Lady of the Oracle (the patron Saint of fishermen). Music and fireworks will end the day.
Staying in Albufeira, the 20th August is Municipal Day which is a public holiday in the town. This makes for a real family outing with sports, entertainment for all ages and a grand finale of fireworks to thrill the crowds.
Festa de Banho - Lagos
There was an old tradition when villagers came down from the hills each 29th August to spend the night on the beach with their picnics; at midnight they would take a dip in the sea to signify the end of summer. Over the years this has turned into a big party time with revellers meeting at Batata, Meia and Duno beaches in Lagos, where there’ll be food, drinks, fun and games. Of course there’s swimming in the sea after sunset and the party goes on all night. This is definitely the place to be for the young at heart!
Food, glorious food!
Festa do Frango - Guia
The annual Chicken Festa in Guia will be held on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd August this year. Guia is famous for its traditional piripiri chicken and quite rightly so; they are masters of the BBQ. During this three day festival, the whole town will turn out to grill chicken, local entertainers will add to the atmosphere and stall holders selling local crafts will show the Algarve at its best.
Festival do Marisco - Olhão
Olhão is hosting their 29th Seafood Festival from the 9th to 14th August at the Jardim Pescador (Fishermans Gardens). Featuring every type of shellfish and seafood as well as cataplanas, paellas, and Algarvean stews, the hundreds of stalls cater for every taste. This is the biggest such festival in Portugal and people come from all over the country and indeed the world to participate.
Of course there is live entertainment, singing and dancing, activities for kids and plenty of stalls filled with sweets, deserts, local handicrafts and much more. The atmosphere is electric and the food is fabulous.
This year tickets are €9 between the 9th to the 13th August and €12 on August the 14th when Anselmo Ralph will be entertaining the crowds. Children of six and under are free and €4 for children aged seven to twelve.
Ticket booths open at 6.30pm and the festival starts at 7.30pm, finishing at 1am.
Sardine Festival - Portimão
If you need more information call 282 003 225.
Sardine Festival – Olhos d’ Agua - Albufeira
On a smaller scale, but no less delicious, the 17th Olhos de Água Sardine Festival will be taking place on 7th – 9th August at Largo dos Pescadores in Olhos de Água from 8pm. By 10pm the party will really get going with music and dancing, ending with a firework display on the last night.
The 9th beach volleyball tournament is taking place at the sports area on Praia da Rocha in Portimão on the 23rd and 24th August, starting at 10am. This should be a fun day out and if you get too hot, well a dip in the sea will be called for!
Vale de Lobo is holding its annual Grand Tennis Champions tournament this August, featuring some of the world’s top senior tennis players. If you would like to watch this exciting event, here are the contact details:
Tel: 289 357 850 or email [email protected] or visit their website.
The prestigious Monte Rei Golf and Country Club, is hosting a charity golf challenge in aid of the Algarve Oncology Association (AOA), on Saturday 30th August. Now here is a chance to play the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Europe and all for a good cause.
The fee is €135 per player and if you call 967 226 280 you will get all the information you need.
Music with a difference
Tickets are €15 for RBL members and €18 for non-members. They are available from: Almadena Social Centre, or Bar 6, and the price includes dinner. A cash bar is available on the night.
For more information e-mail:
[email protected] or
[email protected],
or you may call 910 983 129 or 936 141 987.
There’s a didgeridoo festival happening from 14th to 17th August at Sitio das Fontes in Estõmbar. This event is organised by the Portuguese Association Didgeridoo (PAD) and will include a multitude of activities for all ages. Of course there will be music, dancing and an area dedicated for children to play.
For more information visit the website
August in the Algarve is the busiest month of the year for our social calendars and the events listed here represent a mere fraction of all the activities and entertainment going on. It would be marvellous to be able to participate in all these wonderful occasions, but I find it impossible to find enough hours in the days and nights to manage them all. Who said retirement is a time of rest and reflection?
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.