Loulé is celebrating a hugely successful return of its Carnival festivities, which are among the most popular in Portugal and this year attracted around 80,000 people.
“We are delighted! We had Avenida José da Costa Mealha full in what was perhaps one of the best Carnival parties ever,” said Loulé mayor Vítor Aleixo.
As the mayor pointed out, the Carnival parades held between Sunday and Tuesday were the first to take place since 2020, after being put on hold due to the pandemic.
Aleixo also highlighted the economic impact of the festivities, which he described as “a very important moment for the local economy”, with visitors providing much-needed business for local restaurants, retailers and hotels.
The theme of this year’s parades was the Algarvensis Geopark, which brings together Loulé, Silves and Albufeira and is aspiring to join the official network of UNESCO Geoparks.
The ‘king’ of the parade was the Metoposaurus algarvensis, an extinct amphibian similar to a giant salamander which lived in the Algarve around 227 million years ago and which inspired the bid to become a UNESCO Geopark.
Fourteen floats, 10 entertainment groups, three samba schools and more than 600 people participated in the parades, which once again showed why so many people travel south at this time of year to see the famous show for themselves.
Satire is one of the cornerstones of Portugal’s Carnival, and Loulé’s parades were no exception.
Portugal’s biggest political figures, from Prime Minister António Costa and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, were all depicted as well as international leaders such as the UK’s King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and even Brazil’s new president Lula da Silva.
The event also focused on inclusiveness. For the first time, people with disabilities supported by Associação Existir took part in the parade, proving that “Carnival should be a party for all to enjoy”.
The revenue from ticket sales, which is still being counted, will be divided equally between the associations that took part in the parade and local charities, the council says.
By Michael Bruxo
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