A celebration that combines music, dance and culture, providing a festive atmosphere that involves the whole community and attracts visitors from all over.
Events
Viana do Castelo
Viana Amor & Folia
February
Gastronomic Weekend
April
An event dedicated to local gastronomy, where the city’s restaurants offer typical dishes and special menus, allowing visitors to discover the authentic flavors of Viana do Castelo.
Reading in Viana
April
An initiative that promotes reading and literature, with activities involving writers, autograph sessions and literary workshops, stimulating a taste for books.
Fairs in Praça da República
May
Markets take place throughout the year, offering local products, handicrafts and regional delicacies, providing a unique shopping experience and interaction with producers.
Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Agony
August
One of the city’s most emblematic festivals, held in August, it celebrates the devotion to Our Lady of Agony. The pilgrimage includes parades, dances and the wearing of traditional costumes.
Viana Bate Forte Festival
September
A musical event that highlights local bands and artists, promoting the music and culture of the region, with concerts and activities for all ages.
Esposende
Feast of St. Amaro
January
It marks the beginning of Esposende’s annual festive calendar, with celebrations in honor of Santo Amaro, involving processions and religious ceremonies that attract devotees from all over the region.
Holy Week and Procession to the Lord of the Sick
Easter Season
Holy Week is celebrated with great devotion, starting on Palm Sunday. In Belinho, the Procession to the Lord of the Sick takes place on Easter Sunday, followed by the Pilgrimage of Bom Jesus in Fão the next day.
Our Lady of Guia
May
An event of devotion to Our Lady of Guia, celebrated with processions and religious activities in honor of the patron saint, venerated by the community.
Popular Saints Festivities
June
The Popular Saints festivities celebrate Saint Anthony in Palmeira de Faro (June 13), Saint John in Esposende and Marinhas (June 24) and Saint Peter (June 29), with festivals, processions and festivities in various parishes.
St. Bartholomew of the Sea Pilgrimage
August
This unique pilgrimage includes the traditional “holy bath” in the sea, a ceremony of spiritual protection that attracts devotees and visitors to take part in this tradition of faith and devotion.
St. Martin
November
The feast of São Martinho is celebrated with roasted chestnuts and new wine, marking the end of the festive calendar with an event that involves the whole community in Gandra.
Barcelos
Barcelos Fair
Weekly
One of the oldest and most famous fairs in Portugal, it is known for its diversity of handicraft products, especially local ceramics.
Holy Week
April
Marked by solemn processions, Holy Week is one of the most important expressions of religious devotion in Barcelos.
Feast of the Crosses
May
This religious celebration includes processions and popular festivities, bringing the community together in moments of faith and fraternization.
Folklore Festival
July
A vibrant celebration that brings together folklore groups from various regions, celebrating traditional music and dance.
Feast of Our Lady of Franqueira
August
A pilgrimage that brings together devotees and visitors at the Sanctuary of Franqueira, combining religious celebration with cultural activities.
Braga
Braga Holy Week
March and/or April
One of Braga’s most important and traditional religious events, Holy Week is a profound expression of the city’s faith and devotion. With solemn processions such as the Procession of the Lord Ecce Homo and the Procession of the Burial of the Lord, Braga becomes a stage of intense spirituality. This event attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors, who come to experience the splendor of the religious celebrations and the unique atmosphere of the decorated streets.
Roman Braga
May
This event takes the city back to the time of ancient Bracara Augusta, recreating life in Roman times. The streets are filled with themed markets, gladiator parades, historical re-enactments and interactive workshops showcasing the arts and crafts of ancient Rome. It’s an immersive experience that attracts visitors of all ages, celebrating Braga’s Roman legacy in an engaging and educational way.
St. John’s Festival in Braga
June
Considered one of the biggest celebrations of St. John in Portugal, this festival mixes tradition and modernity with parades, concerts, folk dances, festivals and the emblematic procession. The streets of Braga are filled with color, music and joy, with the scent of roasted sardines and basil perfuming the air. It’s a festival that celebrates the city’s identity and community spirit.
Braga’s White Night
September
This event transforms the city into a giant open-air art gallery, with musical performances, exhibitions, light shows and art installations everywhere. For one night, Braga is dressed in white and invites everyone to take part in a celebration of culture and creativity that lasts until the early hours. White Night is a celebration of art in all its forms, where the city’s streets, squares and buildings come to life.
Braga is Christmas
December and January
During the Christmas season, Braga is transformed into a magical city, illuminated by thousands of lights and festive decorations. The “Braga is Christmas” event includes a Christmas market with handicrafts and local products, ice rinks, carousels, concerts and a Christmas parade that enchants adults and children alike. It’s a time to celebrate the Christmas spirit as a family, with the city offering a welcoming and festive atmosphere that celebrates joy and togetherness.
Póvoa de Lanhoso
CONTE – Ruy de Carvalho National Theater Competition
February
A theater competition that attracts companies from various regions, promoting culture and the arts.
Feast of St. Joseph
March
A religious celebration that honors Saint Joseph with processions, popular festivals and cultural activities.
Pilgrimage to Porto Dave
September
One of the biggest religious festivals in the region, with celebrations that include processions and cultural activities.
Vieira do Minho
Smokehouse Fair
February
An event that celebrates the traditional flavors of the land, highlighting artisanal smoked meats, sausages and other excellent products.
Agro Vieira
May
An agricultural, commercial and industrial fair that promotes endogenous resources and strengthens the link between the primary sector and tourism.
Festivities in Honor of Our Lady of Lapa
July
One of the biggest pilgrimages in the county, it combines faith, tradition and entertainment, bringing together hundreds of people in Soutelo.
Emigrant Festival
August
A special moment of reunion and celebration, dedicated to all Vieirenses living abroad, with music, socializing and cultural activities.
Festivities in Honor of Our Lady of the Conception
August
A religious celebration of great significance to the local community, marked by liturgical ceremonies, processions and moments of sharing and faith.
flea market
October
One of the oldest fairs in the region, with hundreds of exhibitors, gastronomy, handicrafts and local products, it attracts thousands of visitors over several days.
Montalegre
Friday the 13th – Halloween
During the year
A mystical celebration held every Friday the 13th, with reenactments and rituals that attract visitors from all over the country.
Smokehouse Fair
January
An event that brings together smoke producers from the region, with tastings and the sale of local products.
Council Day
June
Celebration of the municipality’s anniversary, with cultural and recreational activities.
Senhor da Piedade – Festivities of the Municipality
August
Festivities with music, dance and religious events in honor of the Lord of Mercy.
Popular Medicine Congress
September
Held in Vilar de Perdizes, the congress brings together practitioners of alternative medicine and is a landmark of local culture.
Feira dos Santos
October
A traditional fair that takes place in Montalegre, with exhibitions and sales of regional products and recreational activities.
Boticas
Nadir Afonso Arts Center
All year round
A cultural space that frequently organizes exhibitions, concerts and artistic events, contributing to the cultural dynamism of the region.
Carnival parade
February
A joyful event that brings the community together to celebrate Carnival with vibrant parades, costumes and music, providing a festive atmosphere for all participants.
Folklore Festival
August
A festival that brings together folklore groups from different regions, offering performances of traditional dances and music, promoting local culture and cultural exchange.
Festivities in the Municipality of Boticas in Honor of Our Lady of Livration
August
A religious celebration that includes processions, festivities and cultural activities, uniting the community in homage to the patron saint.
Ethnographic Parade
August
This event highlights the traditions and customs of the region, featuring typical costumes, dances and music that reflect Boticas’ rich cultural heritage.
Chegas de Bois
August
A local tradition that celebrates rural life, with livestock handling demonstrations and celebrations that highlight the importance of agriculture and livestock in the community.
Chaves
Balcony Fair
Saturdays
Held on the first and third Saturdays of the month, this regional products fair highlights local gastronomy and handicrafts, promoting interaction between producers and visitors.
Flavors of Chaves
February
A festival dedicated to promoting the region’s traditional products, with the aim of giving them a distinctive and attractive image and promoting local gastronomy.
Chaves Codfish Gastronomic Festival
May
This event highlights local gastronomy through unique experiences involving cod-based dishes, enriching Chaves’ tourist presence and highlighting its potential as a gastronomic destination.
City festivities
July
Commemorating the municipal holiday, this event recalls a significant date in the city’s history, offering a diverse cultural program that includes ceremonies, decorations and musical performances.
People’s Festivals
August
For three days, Chaves will be filled with joy and celebrations, recreating the atmosphere of the Roman Empire with a Galician-Roman market, where delicacies, war simulations and various cultural activities will attract the public’s attention.
N2 Festival
August
A music festival that brings to Chaves a variety of artists from different strands of Portuguese music, promoting a festive atmosphere and celebrating local culture.
Festivities in Honor of Our Lady of Grace
September
This religious event attracts many faithful who gather to celebrate the city’s patron saint with a procession through the streets of Chaves, accompanied by local bands.
Feira dos Santos
October/November
One of the most important festivities in the region, the Feira dos Santos transforms Chaves into a festive space full of commerce, music and fun, celebrating local culture.
Valpaços
São Brás Fair
January
Known as the oldest smokers’ fair in the country, where the region’s traditional products are presented and sold. The fair includes cultural presentations and gastronomic events that preserve the know-how of Trás-os-Montes.
Folar Fair
March
An event that preserves the tradition of the Valpaços Folar, with local products and the celebration of the typical Easter bread. It is one of the most important fairs for promoting our gastronomic heritage.
Harvest and Wine Festival
September
A celebration of the grape harvest and wine production, with activities such as grape stomping and tastings involving the whole community.
Our Lady of Health Pilgrimage
September
One of the biggest pilgrimages in the region, it includes processions and religious celebrations, attracting pilgrims and visitors from all over the country.
Chestnut Fair
October
Held in Serra da Padrela, the fair celebrates chestnuts, especially the Jewish variety, and is an important event for trade and the promotion of local production.
National Olive Fair
October
With exhibitors and producers from all over the country, this fair is dedicated to olive oil and includes tastings, presentations and competitions that promote Valpaços olive oil.
Vinhais
Vinhais Smokehouse Fair
February
One of the largest smokehouse fairs in the country, it highlights the region’s famous Bisaro pork smokehouse. The fair includes entertainment, taverns, craft exhibitions and gastronomy.
A Thousand Devils on the Loose
Ash Wednesday
A night parade that brings together hundreds of extras dressed as devils, representing ancient traditions and local beliefs about Devils’ Day.
Rural Castânea – Chestnut Festival
October
An event that promotes chestnut production, with local products, magusto, and the world’s largest chestnut roaster.
Bragança
Butelo and Casulas Festival
February
This festival is celebrated on the weekend before Carnival until Ash Wednesday, highlighting local gastronomy with a special focus on “butelo”, a traditional delicacy of the region, and “casulas”, which are dried broad beans. The event is a celebration of the cuisine of Trás-os-Montes, accompanied by music and typical dances.
Cantarinhas Fair
April to May
Taking place from April to May, this fair is a celebration of local culture and handicrafts. It’s an opportunity to discover artisanal products and sample regional cuisine.
Street Market
June
It takes place in June and features a wide range of products, including fruit, vegetables and local crafts. This event promotes agriculture and craft production.
Stall in the Square
June to September
Held every Saturday from June to September, this market offers a variety of local products, from fresh food to handicrafts. It’s a great opportunity to get to know the flavors of the region.
Festival of History
August
It takes place in August and brings Bragança’s traditions and customs to life through historical reenactments, parades and cultural activities. It is an event that involves the community and visitors, promoting the city’s history in an interactive way.
Bragança, Home and Dreamland
November to January
Beginning in November and running until Three Kings Day, this celebration brings festive lights and decorations to the city. With a Christmas market and various activities, the event promotes the Christmas spirit and community unity.
