Festival was last held in 2019
Preparations are underway for the 11th edition of Festival dos Descobrimentos (Discoveries Festival) which will be held in Lagos between May 4 and 7.
The festival is one of the main events included in the year-long cultural programme to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Lagos as a city and will see Lagos going several centuries back in time to revisit the era of Dom Sebastião, the Portuguese King who went missing in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir in 1578.
The young monarch’s visit to Lagos and his decision to grant it city status in 1573, as well as the details surrounding his military expedition to the north of Africa which ultimately led to his defeat, are some of the events that will be explored to help visitors learn more about Sebastianism – the term used to describe the belief that King Sebastian would eventually reappear and return to Portugal in the future. The term is still very much used in Portugal to describe cases of misguided hope.
The council has also announced that exhibitors will be able to sign up the festival’s Feira Quinhentista (16th Century Fair) between March 10 and 31.
Exhibitors can sign up in four categories: artisans (who showcase how they make their creations live), craftspeople (who sell handicraft), merchants (who sell food products) and tavern keepers (who serve food and/or drinks). Schools and cultural, sports and recreational associations will be offered special deals to participate. Registrations can be made on the council’s website.
The council stresses that the last edition of the festival was held in 2019 as the follow-ups were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, thus there are “great expectations” about the “return of this historical recreation.”
