Expectations couldn’t be higher for the 2015 edition of FATACIL, the popular summer fair which will be taking place for the 36th time in Lagoa between August 21 and 30.
With “wine” as its theme this year, the fair was officially presented last week (July 10) at the Quinta dos Vales wine and art estate in Estômbar.
Organisers said they expect it to be the “biggest and best FATACIL yet” and announced a number of novelties, including an area where wine producers will showcase their products, a third stage where local folk dancing groups will perform and ‘after-hour’ DJ parties.
A honey contest and a debate focusing on the new rural funding programme (PDR2020) are also on the list of this year’s novelties.
Wine, however, will be the highlight of the show.
“After the Lagoa Wine Show, one of the biggest wine events held in our country, Lagoa will once again become Portugal’s wine capital at FATACIL,” said Luís Encarnação, the head of the organising company Fatasul.
If all goes according to plan, there will be at least 700 exhibitors at this year’s FATACIL compared to last year’s 600.
Organisers also want the fair to attract around 170,000 visitors – more than the 160,000 registered in 2014.
The full list of musical guests was announced by Portuguese singer André Sardet, who is responsible for organising the line-up, and includes a number of popular acts in Portugal, including Carminho (August 21), Os Azeitonas (22), David Carreira (23), The Black Mamba (24), Quim Barreiros (25), Amor Electro (26), João Pedro Pais (27), Richie Campbell (28), Daniela Mercury (29) and Anselmo Ralph (30).
Like always, the fair will also feature equestrian shows, as well as hundreds of craftsmen and businesses promoting their work.
Lagoa mayor Francisco Martins said that Fatacil is “one of the most important events of the Algarve as well as Portugal” and that a “huge effort” was made last year to revitalise the event after a few tough years.
He also revealed that this year’s fair will be the last to be organised by Fatasul.
For the first time, a €20 ticket granting access to every day of the fair will be sold. Daily tickets will cost €3.50.
There will also be an extra 5,000sqm of parking space.
By SARA ALVES| Translation MICHAEL BRUXO
Photo From left: Emídio Paias (organiser of the equestrian shows), José Graça (Algarve’s agriculture and fisheries authority), Francisco Martins (Lagoa mayor), Luís Encarnação (Fatasul), Karl Heinz Stock (owner of Quinta dos Vales), André Sardet (Portuguese singer and organiser of the musical line-up at FATACIL)
