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.

NOT TO BE MISSED Algarve Events June - July 2017

***JUNE 10TH - PORTUGAL DAY!*** “Dia de Portugal” is Portugal’s National Day and a bank holiday and along with celebrations across the country, Algarve’s Albufeira will be putting on a free concert with famous Portuguese singer, Dulce Pontes. The concert is being held in the square, Largo dos Paços do Concelho and starts at 9.30pm.

Carvoeiro Black & White Night: The Algarve's first big Summer party - 17th June '17 - with a ~20,000 strong crowd partying in the obligatory black and white colours into the wee hours of the morning! The event takes place at Carvoeiro town beach and surrounding streets from 8.30pm and entry is free!

Marches Populares in Portimão: 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th June '17 at various locations around Portimão, western Algarve. The traditional parades are all about the community and holidaymakers joining together for bucket loads of fun, with costumes, music and entertainment making a fab night for all!

31st Handicraft and Ethnography Fair of Alcoutim: At Praia Fluvial river beach 10th and 11th June. The perfect setting to enjoy Eastern Algarve culture, food and music!

Cataplana Festival in Castro Marim, eastern Algarve: Throughout June participating Castro Marim restaurants are entering Cataplana heaven, for a real taste of one-pot-wonder Portuguese cuisine! Within the traditional copper clamshell pot, seafood such as clams and prawns are cooked with choriço sausage and a medley of fresh veg! Every place does it differently, so it's time to chow down as much as possible!

Festival MED in Loulé: – in Loulé historical centre – 29th June to 2nd July '17. The 14th edition of the MED Festival brings 4 days of international music, entertainment and partying…one of the Algarve’s best summer festivals and NOT TO BE MISSED! Tickets start from €12 for a daily pass and can be purchased from Bol.pt and the Festival Med Loule @ Facebook

Culture Market At Candlelight in Lagoa: From the 6th to 9th July '17 the streets around the São José’s Convent in Lagoa will be lit up with 12,000 candles, symbolising cultures and religions along the mythical Silk road. Entry is free and the event runs from 7pm until 1am.

2017 Alameda Beer Festival in Faro: It's a time for beer lovers to say “Chin Chin” and “Saude” as many times as possible in a bid to sample over 100 types of beer! This International Beer Festival is world acclaimed and it’s fun and merriment for all at Faro's Jardim da Alameda 7th to 9th July ’17!

COMING UP....

ALBUFEIRA FISHERMAN'S FESTIVAL, FESTA DO PESCADOR: First weekend of September 2017, 1st, 2nd and 3rd September!

For more information about what's going on in the Algarve for June and July 2017, check out the Visit Algarve June 2017 Events Guide, the Visit Algarve website, or pop into any tourist information office when you get here to make sure you don’t miss out on something!

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

Algarve Bank holidays 2017

Municipal holiday: Ascension Day (40 days after Easter Sunday): May 25th 2017
New Years Day: 1st January
Carnival ("Carnaval" - Mardi Gras): February 28th 2017
Good Friday: April 14th 2017
Easter Sunday: April 16th 2017
Liberation Day (celebrating the 1974 revolution): 25th April
Labour Day: 1st May
Corpus Christie: June 15th 2017
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

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.