Last year’s fair attracted 215,000 people
Lagoa is gearing up for the 42nd edition of FATACIL, which will take place from August 18 to 27 and is dubbed by organisers as the “largest event to take place south of the Tejo River.”
“This will without a doubt be the biggest and best edition of FATACIL ever in a year in which Lagoa celebrates its 250th anniversary,” Lagoa mayor Luís Encarnação said in a statement to the press.
FATACIL has become known as one of the biggest summer events in the Algarve, attracting dozens of thousands of visitors every year. This year, around 20,000 visitors are expected per day.
The 9,000sqm fairground will feature around 700 exhibitors, dozens of musicians and live performances, hundreds of points of interest and the “largest Fun Zone ever.”
There will also be new additions this year: Palco Lagoa (Lagoa Stage), in the dining area, will be larger and have more “cultural diversity”; Espaço Lounge, run by Vinhos do Algarve (Algarve Wines), will also be larger and more welcoming; FATACIL main stage performances will be screened at the dining area so that everyone can enjoy them.; Amar a Terra, where Algarve products are promoted, has also been expanded and will offer more activities; and the Fun Zone area has also been enlarged to cater to the fair’s younger visitors.
Other innovations include a daily parade during the opening of the fair, a large screen showing live footage from the event and an interactive quiz show at the dining area.
As usual, the event will feature a line-up of some of Portugal’s most popular musical acts: Richie Campbell (August 18), Diogo Piçarra (August 19), Badoxa (August 20), Toy (August 21), Quim Barreiros (August 22), Chico da Tina (August 23), Miguel Araújo (August 24), Os Quatro e Meia (August 25), Bárbara Tinoco (August 26), and Mariza with the Algarve Orchestra (August 27).
Despite the innovations, FATACIL will continue to shine the spotlight on the sectors that inspired its creation, such as handicraft, food and wine, tourism, agriculture, commerce and industry.
It is this combination of the old and new that organisers believe will help the event set new ticket sale records, following an edition that welcomed 215,000 in 2022.
“That cliché saying that ‘FATACIL’ is always the same has stopped making sense many years ago,” says Encarnação.
Organisers advise purchasing FATACIL tickets in advance through traditional online platforms to avoid queues and dive right into the event. The fair will run daily from 6pm to 1am.
Tickets will be available for purchase in the coming days, with a daily ticket costing €5, a family daily ticket costing €16, and a 10-day pass costing €30. Children aged 12 and younger can enter for free by presenting their ID card.
Tickets can be bought through the online ticket office (to be announced soon), at CTT post offices, Fnac, Worten, the local São José convent, Balcão Único Municipal and at the fairground during the event.
Updates will be posted on FATACIL’s social media channels and the official website
“FATACIL is a fair for the whole family, with a diverse cultural line-up for all age groups. This year, it will have the largest area ever in an edition, and there will be plenty of reasons to visit. Lagoa is waiting for you,” added the local mayor.
By Michael Bruxo
