Events Calendar: May

Portugal calendar of events for May.

May 1 - 3

Barcelos (North of Portugal)

Festa das Cruzes (Festival of the Crosses) - This event is considered the most significant festival in Barcelos. It commemorates the “Miracle of the Crosses”. In I504, a farmer who had decided to work on the Day of the Holy Cross, saw a luminous and fragrant cross appear on the earth on which he was digging and he could not make it disappear. On every 3rd of May, there is the Procession of the Holy Cross. The program also includes a spectacular display of fireworks with music.

May 1

Island of Terceira (Azores)

Início das Touradas à Corda (Beginning of the Bullfighting Season)

May 1 - 9

Funchal (Madeira)

World Championship Triathlon

May 3

Monsanto (Beiras region)

Festas de Nossa Senhora do Castelo ou das Cruzes (Festival of Our Lady of the Castle or of the Crosses) - This festival commemorates the legendary medieval siege of the castle. The starving villagers fattened a calf with the last of their wheat and threw it over the castle walls, as if they had plenty of food to spare. This so disheartened the attackers that the siege was abandoned. For this reason, during the Festival of the Crosses in May, the women climb up to the castle accompanied to the sound of “adufes” (traditional hand-held drums) and they throw pots decorated with flowers, symbolizing the calf, over the castle walls. Older women sing and dance with “marafonas”, which are the characteristic cloth dolls of these festivities.

May 3 - 5

Lamego (North of Portugal)

Festa do Cavalo (Horse Festival) - Includes a jumping competition and horse-races

May 6 - 9

Vila Franca de Xira (Lisboa region) – XVI Horse Festival

Public and experts gather in the Cevadeiro Pavilion for this riding event that pays tribute to the horse. This event cannot be missed by anyone who appreciates the equestrian arts. There will also be exhibitions, musical performances, and various food booths.

May 8 - 10

Vila Franca do Lima (North of Portugal)

Festa das Rosas (Rose Festival)

May 10 - 16

Viana do Castelo (North of Portugal)

Encontros de Viana (cinema & video event)

May 11

On all the islands - Azores

Domingo do Espírito Santo (Pentecost)

May 12 & 13

Fátima (Lisboa region)

Peregrinação a Fátima - 60 miles north of Lisbon, the Fátima Sanctuary is a pilgrimage site for millions of Catholics from around the world and a place of devotion for most Portuguese people. This sanctuary is one of the most important Marian sites, on the level of Lourdes in France and Chestochowa in Poland. The 12th and 13th are the most important days, when devotees and pilgrims from around the world congregate at the sanctuary to mark the anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1917.
Location: Santuary of Fátima

May 13

Viana do Castelo (North of Portugal)

Tapetes floridos - Streets will be carpeted in various designs with a large array of flowers.

May 15 - 17

Alvarães (Viana do Castelo)

Festa dos Andores Floridos – local festival

May 23

Island of Faial (Azores)

Festas de N. Senhora das Angústias – religious festival

May 27 - 30

Ponte da Barca (North of Portugal)

Feira Mostra de Produtos Locais (Local Products Showcase Fair)

May 29 - 31

Lisboa

ExpoGolf – The 1st Edition of this fair for golf lovers at the “Parque de Nações” www.fil.pt

Beginning of the month

Coimbra (Beiras region)

Queima das Fitas -The “Queima das Fitas” of Coimbra celebrates the end of the school year at one of the oldest European universities, and it is the largest student happening in Portugal. Academic pageants and other festivities are planned, such as the “Serenata (serenade) no Largo da Sé Velha” and the “Garraiada (bullock-fight) na Praça de Touros”.

First week of May

Tomar (Lisboa region)

Soup Festival - This is an important national gastronomy event. The organizing committee offers a bowl and a cup, and thousands of litres of soup are served.

Every Wednesday May - October

Queluz (Lisboa region)

Equestrian Shows at the Queluz National Palace - At 11am., the Portuguese Equestrian Riding School presents quite a show at the Queluz National Palace.

Saturdays through May & June

Nazaré (Lisboa region)

Arte Xávega na Nazaré (Ancient Fishing Art) - This is a recreation of the old way of fishing in the 30’s at Praia da Nazaré. The captain of the boat starts by calling for the crew of a typical rowing boat; nets are cast out into the sea and later they are hauled in. The fish are sold on the beach.

All along the month

Viana do Castelo (North of Portugal)

Festeixo – the Festival of the Eixo Atlântico Theater

May - June

Porto

FITEI – International Festival of Iberian Expression in Theater

May - June

Porto

Feira do Livro (Book Fair)

April & May

Leiria, Marinha Grande e Pombal (Lisboa region)

Festival de Teatro da Alta Estremadura – theater festival

May - June

Lisboa

Feira do Livro (Book Fair) - Lisbon’s Book Fair is the biggest event of its kind in Portugal and one of the great cultural occasions in the life of the city. The fair takes place in the open air in Eduardo VII Park at the top end of Avenida da Liberdade. Most of the country’s leading publishers are represented, and the vast offering includes foreign books as well as national publications.
For more information - Tel: 213527609/ 213570934.

May - July

Leiria (Lisboa region)

Temporada de Música antiga - This annual festival of ancient music is held in Leiria and the surrounding area, offering a great musical experience.

Other May Events

Island of São Miguel (Azores)

Festas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres – religious festival

Espinho (North of Portugal)

The World Fencing Cup

Alenquer ( Lisboa region)

Feira da Ascensão – traditional fair

Azambuja (Lisboa region)

Feira de Maio (May Fair) Bullfights at the “Largada de Touros”

Cartaxo (Lisboa region)

Festa do Vinho (Wine Festival)

Chamusca (Lisboa region)

Festa da Ascensão – local festival

Leiria (Lisboa region)

Feira de May (May Fair)

Alandroal (Alentejo region)

Semana do Guadiana (Guadiana Week)

Almodôvar (Alentejo region)

FACAL – The arts & culture fair of Almodôvar

Vila Viçosa (Alentejo region)

Peregrinação ao Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Pilgrimage)

Various Locations – Algarve region

Festival Internacional de Música do Algarve (International Music Festival in the Algarve)