Events || Carvoeiro is gearing up for what is expected to be one of the most eventful “end-of-summer” celebrations in the town, taking place on August 30 and 31.
As preparations are in place for the annual religious festivities in honour of Our Lady of Incarnation (Nossa Senhora da Encarnação), with the traditional procession on Sunday, this year will also see an “end of summer” beach party the night before with plenty of music for dancing into the early hours.
The programme of events is extensive and starts on Saturday at 4.30pm with traditional beach games, which include participants attempting to balance themselves on a greasy pole sticking out of a fishing boat at sea. It is called the ‘Pau Ensebado’ and is a traditional game that dates back many decades. Only the bravest – usually young men – participate! There will also be a “chase the ducks” competition and a sack race taking place.
In the evening, from 9pm, it’s time for some live music in the square with ‘The Mashups’.
A mass will then take place at the Nossa Senhora da Encarnação Chapel from 10pm.
Next on the list is the much-awaited beach party to mark the end of the season. Revellers can expect to dance the night away to music by DJ Alexandre Ramos and DJ China from midnight.
Sunday’s events start early with fireworks at 8am to get everyone out of bed and ready for the mass at the local chapel at 10.30am.
Later, the 6pm mass marks the start of the evening’s festivities, with the highlight being the procession through the town’s streets from 7pm. Fireworks usually signal the procession is about to leave the church precinct and head down the hill. This is a good opportunity for visitors to engage in local traditions.
Catholic celebrations have gained new momentum in the town since the maritime scouts group was created a few years ago, attracting younger generations to church. The procession, which sees dozens of people lining the streets to see the icon of Our Lady of Incarnation, has thus attracted more followers, many children.
Organisers recommend arriving early to see the procession as many visitors are often stuck in traffic, as roads will be temporarily cut off, and miss the event.
Music returns to the square at 8.30pm and this year sees popular Portuguese singer Toy taking to the stage, after a performance by musicians Vitor & Edgar.
The night will come to a close with the much-anticipated fireworks’ show at midnight. And this year we have been told by organisers CarvoFestas that the spectacle will be “bigger and better”.
In previous years, the town’s day celebrations, always on the last Sunday of August, would fall on the same day as Fatacil’s final night, but this year the municipality decided to hold the fair a week earlier to avoid a clash between the two events.
By Inês Lopes
