CARNIVAL IS in just two weeks’ time and the Algarve region is preparing for all the fun. As is tradition, many Algarveans masquerade during the celebrations and head for Loulé, where the Câmara has already announced that it is organising the “biggest” carnival parade of 2008, although it is not revealing who was invited to participate in this year’s festival.
The programme varies from the most conservative and traditional carnivals to the most colourful and vibrant Brazilian-style parades. The Loulé Carnival is known as the oldest in the region, this year celebrating its 102nd anniversary. The festival starts on February 5, with a parade going along the José da Costa Mealha Avenue, in the city centre, and the organisation of the event is the responsibility of Loulé Câmara.
Over the years, the parade in Loulé has become more and more influenced by the Brazilian style, with vibrant music and dancers in colourful costumes. However, the social and political satire that characterises the Portuguese parades during the Carnival celebrations remains, creating a unique mixture of cultures.
São Brás de Alportel is offering a more traditional Carnival parade, with revellers and floats expected to go along the Avenida da Liberdade, the village’s main street, on February 5.
Quarteira is celebrating Carnival earlier with parades being organised for February 2 and 4. Vila Real de Santo António is joining in the fun on February 3, with a parade going along several streets of the city.
In Odiáxere, Lagos, the Clube Desportivo is organising a parade that is scheduled to start at 3pm on February 5 and go long the village streets. Monte Gordo, Paderne, São Bartolomeu de Messines and Sagres are also preparing their parades for February 5, but celebrities taking part in the parades are being kept a secret by the organisers.
For more information about this year’s Carnival celebrations in the region, please call your local Câmara or the Algarve Tourism Board on 282 800 400.
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