Christmas is being celebrated in Portimão with a festive programme entitled ‘Sonho de Natal’ (Christmas Dream), which is running until January 6 and will see all kinds of Christmas activities and events taking place throughout the municipality.
The biggest change compared to previous years is the new ‘Santa Claus Factory’, which is taking place at the renovated ‘Lota’ building and will feature a long list of festive entertainment.
Visitors will be able to take part in a series of workshops where they can learn how to make Christmas cookies or wrap presents, or enjoy one of the many Christmas stories which will be told.
Admission is free, but visitors must sign up for any events they want to take part in.
Other highlights include the town’s life-sized nativity scene, which can be visited at Largo da Mó on the town’s Rua das Lojas shopping street and can be visited 24 hours a day, and the town’s ice rink which is located in Praça da República (more commonly known as Alameda) and will be open between 2pm and 7pm on weekdays and between 11am and 7pm at weekends – excluding Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve (11am to 4pm) and Christmas Day (closed).
A Christmas market will be taking place every day at Jardim 1º de Dezembro in front of the TEMPO theatre, open from 5pm to 8pm on weekdays and 3pm and 8pm on weekends.
Santa’s House will also be open to visits at Praça Manuel Teixeira Gomes every day from 10am to 7pm, except for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve when it will close earlier at 4pm.
Christmas lights have also been installed at 40 locations around the borough but will only be turned on between 6pm and midnight due to the government’s recommendations in light of the ongoing energy crisis.
The full programme and schedules can be found online at https://portimaosonhodenatal.pt/
