After a one-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Portimão Council has confirmed that the town’s centuries-old autumn fair ‘Feira de São Martinho’ is returning between November 5 and 14. It will be the 358th edition of the fair, which is said to date back to 1662.
Visitors can expect all the usual attractions at the local fairground, from bumper cars and rides to food stalls selling piping-hot roasted chestnuts, ‘farturas’ (long fried doughnuts covered in sugar and cinnamon), ‘pão com chouriço’ (bread filled with typical Portuguese chorizo) and many other mouth-watering options.
Vendors will also be coming in from all over to sell clothes, shoes, jewellery, bric-a-brac and traditional products such as cheeses, smoked sausages (chouriças) and sweets.
Also due to return is a car and motorbike exhibition inside the nearby Portimão Arena, showcasing vehicles from a wide range of brands.
The fair will also celebrate Youth Day (November 10) and Family Day (November 14), offering special discounts to youngsters and families on the respective days.
Schedules will vary from day to day. The fair will open at 4pm and run until 1am on the opening day (November 5).
From then on, it will begin every day at 10am, closing either at midnight (November 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14) or at 1am (November 6, 12 and 13).
The fair will have two entrances as usual, either through the main fairground entrance near the local bus terminal or the southern entrance near the railway bridge and the town’s riverside sardine restaurants.
Due to the ‘Feira de São Martinho’, Portimão’s monthly market and flea markets will not be held in November.
Organisers have also announced that visitors will be obliged to follow the Covid-19 guidelines enforced at the time by the national health board (DGS).
