Algarve Events -
what to enjoy during your stay
Read all about upcoming Algarve events during the next few weeks.
I try to update this page whenever I learn about something new
that looks interesting, so don't forget to visit often - if only to discover what you're missing!
Now you've no excuse for not planning what to do when you're not lolling around on those gorgeous beaches,
whenever your Algarve vacation takes place.
Choose from:
festivals 4
fairs 4
sports 4
entertainments
music 4
shows 4 art exhibitions
4 markets
As you may know if you have read my Algarve Culture page, there's plenty going on in Algarve, no matter what time of year you may visit. It took me ages to discover that there was another Algarve, beyond where the beaches ended - but now you don't have the same excuse. Here's what you could be enjoying during the rest of this month...
(Often, at the beginning of the month, there's not much information
available. But do check back to see my regular updates as
the information comes in!)
Algarve Events - Festivals
This month sees the start of one of the Algarve's
Biggies' - an event that has no rivals in my opinion. Yes,
from 22nd of May it is time for...
Fiesa 2008
The biggest, most varied and impressive festival
of sand sculptures in the world, it's claimed. With more
than 35,000 tonnes of sand and international sand artists
from all over the world, it's always a wonder to behold.
The theme of this year's FIESA is, quite simply, Hollywood.
Plenty of scope there for some fantastic and outrageous
sculptures, I'm sure!
In addition to the sand sculptures, there's music, films,
workshops for percussion and Capoeira, as well as dance and
theatre. Often, the sand artists give exhibitions of how
they do their stuff.
It takes place at Pêra, and you can find out more by
telephoning:
96
945 92 59 or 96 945 92 61
Portimão Festival of Jazz
Entitled 'Maio, Lindo Maio' (May, beautiful May), this
runs from the 8th to the 11th of the month.
Artists include André Mota, Marta Hugon and Carlos
Barreto (Portugal), David Binney (USA) and Didier Lockwood
(France). You can visit the Disco Day on the 11th and see
"Jazz Song".
It's all taking place at the riverfront area from 1500 to
1900 on the 25th and from 1100 to 1900 on the other days.
Tel. for details: 282 470 700
Festival of Seafood Gastronomy
Hosted in beautiful Tavira (and immediate environs), this
runs from 10th to 25th May. It's an annual event, so should
be well organised.
This
time around, there are 16 restaurants involved, namely:
Tavira:
Bica, Brisa do Rio, Galeão,
Salinas (Hotel Vila Galé Albacora), Marés, Riamar,
A Ver Tavira, Rive Gauche, Abstracto, Mouraria.
Cabanas:
Pedro, Cabanas Brasserie, Páteo da Ria (Aparthotel
Cabanas Park)
Santa Luzia:
Casa do Abade, Vincent, Casa ao Lado.
Customers stand a chance to win a weekend 'Near the Sea' at
one of the participating hotels:
Quinta do Morgado (Tavira), Hotel
Eurotel (Tavira),
Pousada do Convento da Graça (Tavira), Hotel Porta Nova (Tavira),
Apartamentos Turísticos Pedras d’ El Rei (Santa Luzia),
Aparthotel Golden Club (Cabanas), Cabanas Park
(Cabanas),
Casa Viana Guesthouse (Cabanas),
Aldeamento Turístico Pedras da Rainha (Cabanas),
Vila Galé Hotels (in one of their hotels in Portugal).
Algarve Events - Fairs
Summer Fair at Tavira
In aid of Loulé's Canil São Francisco animal
rescue centre. Lots of hand-made foods, bric-a-brac stalls,
greetings cards and clothing. Saturday 10th May, 10.00 to
13.00, near the riverside market. Have a browse and
contribute to a good cause at the same time!
Tel. 281 324 795 for details or to donate items.
International Algarve Fair
The weekend of the 10th/11th sees this year's event once
again at Lagoa's Fatacil showground. Opening hours are 10.00
to 20.00 and entrance is 3 euros per head, but children
under 12 years of age go in free.
There'll be a show of new motors in the pavilion, an Arts
and Crafts marquee, a selection of garden designs that will
be judged by a presenter from BBC's Groundforce programme,
and many, many individual stands.
The latter will include representatives and displays from
many Algarve businesses that offer such diverse services as
fashion, home design and decoration, medical and alternative
therapies, pool services...
As usual, there'll be plenty to keep visitors amused,
with street performers, jugglers, puppeteers, stilt-walkers
and other stuff to lend a carnival atmosphere.
In
the relaxation section of the park, the stage will host the
usual eclectic mix of music styles that can be enjoyed
during most of the day from the seating areas at the cafés
and restaurants that offer rest and refreshments.
We usually retreat there to escape the frequent
'pan-pipes' performances by the Ecuadorian group on the
lawn. Since they're back again, others must enjoy what they
do, so we just grit our teeth and get on with it!
Amusingly, the newspaper ads for this event have, since
last year, included a photograph (see right) of Nev and me!
If memory serves, I was telling him where to meet up again,
as he can get lost inside even a well-defined area...
Algarve Events - Sports and Stuff
Rally of Vila do Bispo
On 17 and 18th of May, the Car Club of Portugal is proud
to present this rally.
European Bodyboarding Circuit -
Open and Women's Events
Organised by the Portuguese Surfing Federation, these
events take place on the 16th, 17th and 18th of May at Vila
do Bispo.
Algarve Events -
Entertainments
None found yet!
Algarve Events - Music
23rd Algarve Academic Week
Don't let the title fool you; this also entails a good
selection of musical events. Those billed are:
| 8th |
Serenata/ Toca Rufar/Anjos |
| 9th |
RUA Stage - Nanook | Main
Stage- Água na Boca/ Fafá de Belém |
| 10th |
RUA Stage - Slimmy | Main
Stage - Hands On Aproach / Band to be confirmed / Chus
& Ceballos |
| 11th |
RUA Stage - Rhakatta |
Main Stage - Irmãos Verdade/ Bonga |
| 12th |
RUA Stage - Banda da RUA
| Main Stage - Claudisabel / Marco Paulo |
| 13th |
RUA Stage - Miss Lava |
Main Stage - Fonzie/ Tara Perdida |
| 14th |
RUA Stage - Macacos do
Chinês | Main Stage - Dealema/ Boss AC |
| 15th |
RUA Stage - Fad’Nú |
Main Stage-Tunas Académicas/ Engatatvnvs; TunaBebes;
Rela Tuna Infantina; Feminis Ferventis; Versus Tuna |
| 16th |
RUA Stage - Kumpania
Algazarra | Main Stage -Quem é o Bob?/ Marcelo D2 |
| 17th |
RUA Stage - Sean Riley
& The Slowriders | Main Stage - Bunny Ranch/ Xutos
e Pontapés/ Pete Tha Zouk |
| 18th |
Gala Dance - Finalists |
ARCM Jam Session
The Association of Musicians in Faro have a
regular session wherein 'musos' are invited to turn up with
their instruments and join in an improvisation (Jam
session).

It happens every Thursday, from 2200 to 0200 (I'm
guessing some folk don't have day jobs!) and entry is free.
There's a bar, and you can sample some delicious regional
snacks (so I'm told - I haven't managed to attend yet).
The
location is down by the Faro railway station, in Rua da
Moagem. It's accessed via Rua Gomes Freire, which is one-way
traffic from the R. Infante Dom Henrique, so check this
maplet for how to access it...

Tel. 961398634
@@@
Jazz Club concert at the S. Brás de Alportel
Museum. This month's offering takes place on the 18th
from 1700 to 1900 (5 pm to 7 pm) and features Be &
Bop - Manuela Lopes and Zé Eduardo, who use voice and
double bass respectively! An eclectic mix of Portuguese
words put to the music of the great Bebop standards, it
should be another one-off for the Museu.
The concert is arranged on behalf of the
Friends of the Museum, and tickets are 5 euros for members,
7 euros for non-members. Great value if you're keen on live
jazz. And, if you take along an instrument, you can join in
the jam session at the end! Here's how to get there...
This month, there's also another jazz
concert at the Museum, on Saturday 31st May at 20:30. It
features the Good Vibes vibraphone quartet, and
tickets are 14 euros in advance or 15 euros on the night
(Friends of the Museum pay 10 euros or 12 euros
respectively.
@@@
Friday night Jam Session weekly at the Lounge Bar, Boliqueime. Join in if you wish! (tel. 281 369 004 for details).
Algarve Events - Shows
Casino Shows
'Cotton Club' is showing at Vilamoura Casino,
at 10 pm. It's the story of that eternal love triangle, this
time set in a New York speakeasy. It's about timeless
passions interspersed with passionate music. Sound good? Why
not check it out?
(tel. 289 310 000 for details).
'La Femme' is
the new spectacular (set in 'a mysterious cavern') at 10.30 pm nightly at Hotel Algarve Casino, Praia da
Rocha.
La Femme is all about celebrating 'The
Woman' in all her facets, so that's okay by me! (tel. 282
402 000 for details).
'Dream' is, unsurprisingly, a show about
'fantasies'. Catch it at the Monte Gordo Casino (Tel. 281
530 800 for details).
The tariff offered at Monte Gordo allows you to see the show with
either a complimentary drink for about 10 euros, a fixed
menu meal for some 22 euros or à al carte for around
27 euros. The shows are usually followed by live dance
music. (Note that prices are a little higher at the
Vilamoura and Portimão venues, so do check first).
Algarve Events - Art Exhibitions
Espirito do Lugar (Spirit of the Place) is an
exhibition of works by various artists, hosted at the art
gallery of the Holy Spirit Convent in Loule.
Open 09:30 to 17:30 - except Saturday (10:00 to
14:00) and Sunday (closed).
Metamorfose is an exhibition at the Art Gallery, Praça
do Mar in Quarteira until 11th May.
Miniatures by Justino Brito and texts by Teresa
Taveira tell the story of the evolution of architecture in
Portugal, considering influences such as Oriental, Arabic,
Roman and even the primitive homes that preceded those.
(Usually open during daylight hours).
An exhibition by Paula Rego can be seen at Faro's Municipal
Museum from 5th April to 31st May. Tel. 289 897 400
David Haines is a popular Algarve-based artist who seems to have
plenty of exhibitions going on at any one time. Currently,
you can catch his (rather striking) work at:
Patricia’s Restaurant and Gallery, Montes de Cima,
north of Penina, and the Magna Carta Bookshop, Quinta da
Praia, Alvor
Lua Azul Gallery, São Brás de Alportel;
George Timber showroom, on the EN125 road between
Ferreiras and Patã de Cima (near Albufeira).
And Nev's favourite Algarve artist, Clive Cook,
has an exhibition that's open every day at the Private
Gallery, Figueira, Vila do Bispo. There are
watercolours and oil paintings to admire (and covet). Tel:
282 695 446
Algarve Events - Markets
There are regular markets held all over the Algarve, so
if you want to sample the flavour of local wheeling and
dealing during your stay, why not go along and join in the
colourful (and, when you pass one of the snack/drinks areas,
often odour-ful) fun?
The Algarve markets tend to be held on the same days
every month, public holidays permitting, so here's where
I've put my comprehensive listing so you can find one that's near
you, wherever you're staying...
Algarve
Markets - find out more!
(Organisers and venue owners can contact me ahead of time
for inclusion on this page. Just use
the form on my Algarve
Best page to let me know).
Watch this page for next month's events!
... or, to make it easy to stay in touch, you can always subscribe to my free monthly newsletter, Algarve Beach Life News... Just click on the link below ("For Lovers of Algarve Beach Life") or on the button at top left ("Subscribe to ABLN") --
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Let Everyone Know:
If you have an event or other entertainment about which
you'd like to advise Algarve Beach Life's readers, then let
me know in good time and I'll try to include it here.
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