Lisbon has many Festas

Here we are in another edition of the Festas de Lisboa which, as expected, have Marchas Populares (People’s Parades) and Arraiais (Street Fairs), Thrones, Race and Weddings of Saint Anthony. As a popular manifestation of intergenerational and multicultural Lisbon, the Festas include other festivals, particularly those that evoke sights, sounds, smells and tastes from other latitudes, such as the Bollywood Holi Festival and Indian Market, in Comunidade Hindu de Portugal (June 2), the Korean Culture Festival, at Museu de Lisboa – Palácio Pimenta (June 8), the Thai Festival (between June 21 and 23) and the Festival of Japan (June 29), at Jardim Vasco da Gama, in Belém.

The Arraiais (Street Fairs) promise to be in full swing throughout the month in the parishes of Alcântara, Carnide, Estrela, Misericórdia, Olivais, Penha de França, Santa Maria Maior and São Vicente. But there are more parties on the agenda: the Festival de Telheiras (from May 24 to June 2); Arraial dos Navegantes (May 30 to June 2), in Parque das Nações, Trezena de Santo António (June 1 to 11), with fados, visits and guitar playing in Largo de Santo António; the unmissable Arraial da Vila Berta (from June 1 to 12); or the three days of music, gastronomy and crafts at Alameda D. Afonso Henriques, where the VIII Meeting of Associativism and Regionalism in the city of Lisbon takes place, between June 14 and 16. Also noteworthy is the already traditional Arraial Pride scheduled for June 22nd, in Terreiro do Paço.

The festas of Marchas Populares

Lisbon’s marchers head to Avenida da Liberdade for the city’s longest night, from June 12 to 13. This year, the parade begins with a special moment: the Dragon Dance, by Associação Geral Desportiva de Macau Lo Leong (guest group), commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region.
As for the marchas populares, preceding the parade on the Avenue, they take place at the MEO Arena between May 31st and June 2nd, always starting at 9 pm.

On June 15, in Jardim da Torre de Belém, almost two thousand children, divided into 39 groups, will march under the slogan “Lisbon, City of Traditions: the Tagus”. The Lisbon School Marches are a Lisbon City Council initiative in partnership with Lisbon schools, parents’ associations and parish councils.

Music and everything else

Music is another of the Festas’ strengths, with very eclectic concerts ranging from fado to jazz, popular music, dancehall, R&B and classical music. In addition to the concerts by Tony Carreira (June 29) and Richie Campbell (June 30) that close the Festas de Lisboa at Praça do Comércio, the highlight goes to a unique concert by Mariza (June 20) at Castelo de São Jorge. The fado singer presents her most recent work and covers two decades of her career in a show that promises to be unforgettable.

Also worth mentioning is classical music in the Grande Auditório of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, with a musical trip to Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries (June 15), and jazz, with seven concerts in Largo do Picadeiro, with national and international artists (between June 1 and 15).

The Festas de Lisboa also include cinema, theater and exhibitions.

Full programme here.