Summer in the Algarve is more than just the sun and the beach, and throughout August a wide choice of concerts, parties, festivals, fairs and other events will be available for residents and tourists alike, confirming the region’s varied agenda.
One of the most prestigious and sought-after events of the Algarve is Portimão’s Sardine Festival. Its offering of the most delicious sardines, accompanied by home-made bread, boiled potatoes and traditional Algarvean salad, have made it the city’s most important gastronomic event and one of the most relevant in the region, while still providing its public with top-notch entertainment year after year. ‘Festa da Sardinha’ began on the first day of the month and will be running until August 11, starting every day at 9pm.
However, if you are not able to make it to the Portimão festival, a more than worthy alternative is available in Olhos de Água, Albufeira, where the town’s Largo dos Pescadores will be filled with kilos of sardines waiting for hungry customers. The Festa da Sardinha de Olhos de Água began on August 8 and will also be running until August 11.
Another highlight of the gastronomic summer festivals is Olhão’s Seafood Festival.Beginning on August 10 and finishing on August 15, visitors will be able to taste some of the most scrumptious seafood the Algarve has to offer, with a variety of shrimps, oysters, clams, crabs and more, while appreciating the popular Portuguese live music.
Still, the event which normally captivates a larger number of people in the region is Lagoa’s FATACIL. Taking place between August 16 and 25, the event will feature 600 exhibitors from the handicrafts, tourism, agriculture, retail and industry sectors, as well as high-class entertainment, including concerts and equestrian displays and a rich offering of restaurants and regional delicacies. See our competition giving readers the chance to win free tickets to FATACIL on page 16!
All of these events, plus a number of other parties, festivities and fairs, are included in the ‘Algarve com Eventos’ flyer, which brings together all the events from the different municipalities and entities of the region into one easy-to-access document. The flyer can be found at Algarve tourism posts around the region and can also be downloaded online.
