Ferragudo’s Artenata fair has been lauded as the “biggest Christmas fair” the fishing village has ever seen.
Though the number of visitors has still to be compiled, organisers say the event is certain to have surpassed last year’s record of 5,000.
The fair took place last weekend in the main Rainha D. Leonor square, and featured 50 exhibitors – all of them based in the Algarve.
Entertainment included performances by local choirs and dance groups, as well as a visit from Santa, a nativity scene exhibition, and showcooking led by Chef Cátia Santos, a former contestant of Portuguese TV show Chef’s Academy.
The only aspect that kept Artenata from being a complete success was that exhibitors say they did not sell as much as they had hoped.
Ferragudo’s parish council called it a “sign of the country’s economic reality,” even though lots of people showed up and the ATM machines ran out of money.
Still, 62% of those selling their wares dubbed sales “good enough”.
The parish council says it hopes the economy will have improved in time for next year’s Artenata, which will be held on December 3-4.
As a show of good faith, exhibitors are to be invited to take part in the village’s Easter fair – scheduled to take place between March 24-26 – without paying any entrance fees.
