Portugal calendar of events for October.

October 2 - 10

Vila Franca de Xira (Lisboa region)

Feira de Outubro e Salão de Artesanato (October Annual Fair and the 23rd Handicraft Show) - This fair is an attraction for thousands of people, not only for the handicrafts show, but also for the running of the bulls in the street and the bullfighting.

October 12 - 13

Fátima (Lisboa region)

Peregrinação a Fátima (pilgrimage) - Devotees and pilgrims again converge on Fátima in a pilgrimage commemorating another anniversary of the last apparition of the Virgin Mary.
Location: Santuário de Fátima

October 19

Meda (North of Portugal)

Feira das Vindimas (Grape Harvest Fair) - A celebration of the traditional rituals of the grape harvest and the crushing of the grapes.

October 17 - 20

Ponte de Lima (North of Portugal)

Feiras Novas – county fair

October 27

Buçaco (Beiras region)

Comemorações da Batalha do Buçaco (Commemoration of the Battle of Buçaco) - This event includes an open-air Mass, as well as a historical reenactment of the Buçaco battle and a market fair.

October - November

Porto

Festival de Jazz (Jazz festival)
Location: Rivoli Teatro Municipal

First week of October

Angra do Heroísmo (Azores)

Angra Jazz - jazz festival

At the middle of October

Sernancelhe (Lisboa region)

Festa da Castanha (Chestnut Festival)

From middle October to beginning of November

Santarém (Lisboa region)

Festival Nacional de Gastronomia e Feira de Artesanato (National Festival of Gastronomy & Handicrafts Fair) - This involves a large showcase of traditional gastronomy from various regions of Portugal which also highlights their wine, traditional dances, and handicrafts.
Location: Casa do Campino

3rd weekend of October

Castro Verde (Algarve region)

Feira de Castro - This event is considered the largest traditional fair in the southern Portugal. Here one can buy or sell everything that is related to life in the countryside. The fair also includes a showcase of handicrafts that is representative of the Alentejo and the Algarve.

The last weekend of October

Reguengo do Fétal (Batalha – Lisboa region)

Festa de N. Senhora do Fétal ou dos Caracóis - This traditional festival’s main characteristic is the evening procession illuminated by thousands of lanterns made from snail shells.

First week of October

Espinho (North of Portugal)

World Championship of Beach Vollyball

First week of October

Tomar (Lisboa region)

Ancient Music at the Convento de Cristo - An event at the magnificent location of the Convento de Cristo celebrating ancient music.

September 15 – October 15

Lamego and Douro region (North of Portugal)

Festas das Vindimas (Grape Harvest Festival) - During this event, the Douro, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, will have festivities in the entire valley. There will be traditional meals of the grape harvest, tanks full of grapes, and traditional music at the participating estates. Standing out from the general program is the “Cortejo Etnográfico” (etnographic pageant), the “Entronização dos Novos Confrades na Confraria do Vinho do Porto” (introduction of the new members to the Fellowship of Port Wine) and the “Missa de Benção do Vinho Novo” (mass for the blessing of the new wine).

September- October

Lisboa

Lisbon International Pipe Organ Festival www.jmp.pt/festivaldeorgao

September- October

Lisboa

Gay and Lesbian Film Festival – 6th edition of this festival featuring screenings of radical and mainstream movies.

Other October Events

Figueira da Foz (Beiras region)

Campeonato Mundial de Surf (World Championship of Surfing)

Óvar (Beiras region)

Cine-Eco - Located near Serra da Estrela, this international festival of cinema and video shows works that focus on ecology, defending nature, and protecting the environment, in order to promote education in these areas.

Alcanena (Lisboa region)

Tasquinhas/ Mostra de Artes e Ofícios(Food Booths / Arts & Crafts Showcase)

Alcobaça (Lisboa region)

Festival Nacional de Marionetas (National Puppet Festival)

Estoril (Cascais – Lisboa region)

Estoril Open (Golf)
Location: Quinta da Marinha

Mafra (Lisboa region)

VIII International Festival of Music - In the Mafra National Palace, this festival offers 8 days of music and dance ranging from Baroque to modern.

Seixal (Beiras region)

Seixal Jazz - This is a festival on the other bank of the river featuring top international jazz. There will be more than a week of music with 2 concerts a night. There will also be exhibitions, workshops, and stands to complement the program.
Location: Fórum Cultural do Seixal

Redondo (Alentejo region)

Feira de São Francisco (St. Francis’ Fair) – local fair

Faro (Algarve region)

Feira de Santa Iria – local fair

Loulé (Algarve region)

Encontro de Música Antiga (ancient music performance)

Monchique (Algarve region)

Feira de October (October Fair)

Various Locations (Algarve region)

Rallye Casinos do Algarve – car rally

Praia da Vitória (Azores)

Festival do Ramo Grande – local festival

Silves (Algarve region)

Prova do Campeonato do mundo de Bodyboard (Test for the World Championship of Bodyboard)

Vila Franca de Xira (Lisboa region)

Feira do Melão (Melon Fair) - This fruit is cultivated extensively through out the region. The fair will have a contest in which small farmers will present their best regional melons. There will also be musical performances, expositions, and food booths.

Torrão (Alcácer do Sal – Alentejo region)

Feira do Torrão – town fair

Portel (Alentejo region)

Feira Anual (Annual Market Fair)

Reguengos de Monsaraz (Alentejo region)

Feira de Agosto (August Fair)

Albufeira (Algarve region)

Festas de Nossa Senhora da Orada - This traditional festival includes a fireworks display over the sea and, on the 15th , there will be a procession of boats.

Castro Marim (Algarve region)

Festa e Feira da Senhora dos Mártires – local festival and fair

Castro Marim (Algarve region)

Dias Medievais – medieval re-enactment

Faro (Algarve region)

Festival do Marisco da Ria Formosa – festival celebrating the seafood from Ria Formosa

Loulé (Algarve region)

Festival Internacional de Jazz (International Jazz Festival)
Location: Convento do Espírito Santo

Loulé (Algarve region)

Festa da Alegria e Carnaval nocturno – traditional festival

Moncarapacho (Algarve region)

Feira de Arte, Artesanato, Agricultura e Recreio de Moncarapacho (Art, Handicrafts, Agriculture, and Recreation Fair of Moncarapacho)

Olhão (Algarve region)

Festival do Marisco (Shellfish Festival) - This festival is one of the largest gastronomical events in the Algarve region and it offers a showcase of delicacies from the sea prepared using traditional recipes.
Location: Jardim do Pescador Olhanense

Portimão (Algarve region)

Festival da Sardinha (Sardine Festival)

Quarteira (Algarve region)

Festival da Sardinha (Sardine Festival) - On a giant grill that is 42 yards long and has been made especially for this occasion, the festival will grill almost 700 pounds of sardines at a time. In order to complete the meal, there will be no shortage of homemade bread, good wine, and the indispensable Algarvian tomato salad.
Location: Pinhal do Forte Novo