Loulé has announced its Christmas programme which includes all the usual events that locals and visitors have grown to expect, from the arrival of Santa Claus to the popular Christmas Village.
But the biggest novelty this year will be the ‘Praça de Natal’ in Quarteira, where children can take part in fun activities while adults do some Christmas shopping.
The festivities will officially begin on Saturday, November 30 with the arrival of Santa Claus in Loulé at 3pm, accompanied by a ‘Dream Parade’ featuring members of local associations and sports club.
His form of transportation is being touted as a “big surprise” which promises to delight the many children who will be waiting for him at Praça da República, where Santa will be handing out gifts.
At the end of the day, Loulé will also be unveiling its Christmas lights.
Santa’s busy schedule will continue on Sunday, December 1 with his arrival at Quarteira’s Praça do Mar at 11am and Almancil’s Jardim das Comunidades at 3.30pm.
Quarteira’s Praça de Natal will also be inaugurated on the same day, while another initiative called ‘Rua de Natal’ (Christmas Street) will be launched on Rua Vasco da Gama between December 14 and 24 from 11am to 6pm in a bid to bring more life to the town’s traditional shopping streets.
Loulé’s Christmas Village will open on Friday, December 6 with a parade by local schoolchildren. The Village will be divided into four areas near Cerca do Convento and Alcaidaria do Castelo as well as the Dom Afonso III and São Francisco squares and will stay open until December 29.
Also planned is a special show for children, promoted by children’s TV channel Panda, which will take place at the Loulé Sports Pavilion on Saturday, December 7. There will be two shows, at 11am and at 3pm, with tickets available at ticketline.pt.
Festivities will come to an end on January 5 with the unveiling of a giant Bolo-Rei, Portugal’s traditional Christmas cake, near the Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco monument in Loulé.
