Events in Monchique - Algarve - Portugal

Here you will find lots of information about events in Monchique in the Algarve, Portugal! See when and where the markets are in and around Monchique, what great annual events take place and when the Algarve bank holidays are so you don't miss out on something or on a practical note, get caught out by the supermarkets closing.

Algarve Events Guide February 2015

Check out what's going on in the Algarve Events Guide February 2015 by Visit Algarve (the official Algarve Tourist Board)!

February Highlights: February in the Algarve is famous for "Carnaval" time and this year carnivals take place between 14th and 17th February, with the most famous being Loulé Carnaval and other main festivities in Albufeira (Paderne), Castro Marim (Altura), São Brás de Alportel and Monte Gordo.
Also taking place is the 41st Algarve Bicycle Tour, with stages going through Lagos, Lagoa, Vila do Bispo, Sagres, Tavira and Vilamoura. An event not to be missed is the Circo Acrobático de Human - Esectáculo de Ano Novo, The Human Acrobatics Troupe with a special show for Chinese New Year. There is also lots of music to enjoy, including the 15th Al-Mutamid Music Festival in Olhão, Silves and Lagoa, as well as stand-up comedy in Portimão, exhibitions across the region including a fantastic painting exhibition in Lagos by Antero Anastácio from Peniche, Portugal. For ballet fans the famous Swan Lake will be presented by the National Ballet of Portugal and Classical Orchestra of the South in Faro.

Annual events in Monchique

• March (1st weekend): Feira dos Enchidos Tradicionais ( fair of traditional cured sausages) at the Heli-port in Monchique. Sausages made to age old recipes from 'carne de porco preto' (black pig). Other local produce and craftwork and fun and musical entertainment.
• May or June: Baja Serra de Monchique -the Algarve automobile club and Portuguese federation of motor racing and karting organise annually the four-by-four championships
• July (last Sunday): Fair of local produce and craft work in Marmelete. Musical entertainment to help the fun along!
• July : Feira do Presunto (cured ham) in Monchique - a fair to promote the cured ham that Monchique is well known for as well as other great local produce - Monchique honey, sweet treats and cakes, medronho and organically produced fruit preserves.
• July or August: Festa de St. António in Marmelete -2 days of celebration.
• July and August: 'Summer nights' - every weekend through July and August Monchique has a progamme of activities - dancing, concerts, popular music shows, foclore and theatre events
• August (1st weekend): Festa de São Romão in Alferce. Fun and music in the evenings,with Mass and a procession through the streets on the Sunday.
• September (1st Sunday): The annual fair in Marmelete.
• September (1st weekend) in Largo dos Chorões, Monchique: Feira de Artesanato "Artechique" - demonstrations of skills such as weaving, basket making and ceramics by many skilled craftspeople from the Municipality.
• October (4th weekend): Monchique annual fair.
• October or November: Raid BTT - mountain bike ride through the Serra de Monchique, normally more than 100 cyclists from all over the country get together
• November: Passeio TT Serra de Monchique Rota da Castanha - organised by Monchique Montanha Club -where riders on motorbikes and quads come from various parts Portugal and Spain to ride through the Serra de Monchique.
• November (normally): Rally e Casinos do Algarve with a stage around Monchique
• November 1st: Festa da Castanha/Magusto (Chestnut festival) in Alferce and Marmelete
• November 11th: Festa da Castanha/Magusto in Monchique

Back to Top

Algarve Bank holidays 2014 to 2017

• Municipal holiday: Ascension Day (40 days after Easter Sunday): 2014-May 29th; 2015-May 14th; 2016-May 5th; 2017-May 25th
• New Years Day: 1st January
• Carnival ("Carnaval" - Mardi Gras): 2014-March 4th; 2015-February 17th; 2016-February 9th; 2017-February 28th.
• Good Friday: 2014-April 18th; 2015-April 3rd; 2016-March 25th; 2017-April 14th.
• Easter Sunday: 2014-April 20th; 2015-April 5th; 2016-March 27th; 2017- April 16th.
• Liberation Day (celebrating the 1974 revolution): 25th April
• Labour Day: 1st May
• Corpus Christie: 2014-June 19th; 2015-June 4th; 2016-May 26th; 2017-June 15th.
• Portugal Day: 10th June
• Assumption of the Virgin: 15th August
• Republic Day: 5th October
• All Saints' Day: 1st November
• Restoration (of Independence) Day: 1st December
• Immaculate Conception: 8th December
• Christmas Day: 25th December

Back to Top

Markets in Monchique and surrounding areas

• Market in Monchique : 2nd Friday of each month in Largo do Mercado
• Flea market in Monchique: 4th Sunday of the month in Largo dos Chorões
• Market in Silves: 3rd Monday of the month, near the cemetery
• Market in Azilheira (São Marcos da Serra): 1st Thursday of the month
• Market in São Marcos da Serra: 1st Saturday of the month, next to the cemetery.
• 'Feira da Terra' on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month. A fair of local produce in the centre of Monchique. A chance to buy the locally grown fruit and vegetables, locally produced sausages of all types, home made sweet treats, the 'multifloral' honey of the Serra, also various items crafted from wood that are traditional around Monchique.

Back to Top