DATES FOR YOUR DIARY AS THE SEASON’S BIGGEST EVENTS RETURN
August in the Algarve brings crowds, heat and of course two of the region’s biggest and most popular events: the Fatacil in Lagoa and the Silves Medieval Fair.
The longest-running and best-known fair in the Algarve, the 36th Fatacil takes place in Lagoa between August 21 and 30. With expected figures in the region of 600 stands and more than 150,000 visitors, the handicraft, tourism, agriculture, commerce and tourism fair welcomes businesses looking to promote their products or services, showcasing everything from handcrafted furniture and jewellery to traditional produce, top-of-the-range cars and award-winning cattle.
There is also the usual entertainment, with dressage shows and some of the biggest names on the Portuguese music scene.
Open late afternoon, entrance costs €3.50 per person (free for children up to the age of 12) or €12.50 for a family of four.
A very different but equally popular festival is the Silves Medieval Fair, which this year runs from August 7 to 15. A true throwback to a medieval Silves, which was once the Moorish capital of the Algarve, the event sees the city’s cobbled streets filled with stalls selling all kinds of unusual items and the food concessions are like going back in time as you sit on a bale of hay and enjoy a suckling pig sandwich.
Only clay crockery is used and the currency is the xelb.
Visitors are encouraged to dress up in authentic costumes (available to hire), with veiled dancers, musicians, snake charmers, jugglers, knights and activities completing the scene.
Certainly not to be missed, the festival begins at 6pm and tickets cost €2.
www.fatacil.com.pt | Find Feira Medieval de Silves on Facebook
