Running from 3 to 10 August in the colorful town of Portimao in western Algarve, the Sardine Festival 2012 greets visitors with plenty of music, theatre, dance, various art and comedy shows, sunshine and of course, the delicious grilled sardines served with homemade bread and Algarve salad.
Photo courtesy Tom Godber, Flickr
For the delight of visitors, this year’s event comes with a new location, a new format, and a more entertaining program, all wrapped up into an excellent experience suitable to everyone. The festival will take place in Parque de Feiras e Exposicoes, a 10,000 square-meter venue especially designed to host thousands of people, vendors, street performers, as well as three stages: The Main Stage, Sardinha Stage and Fado&Petiscos Stage.
Each festival evening will begin around 18.00 with “Ha Sardinha no Cais”, a lively parade along the Portimao waterfront, where guests will have the opportunity to immerse into the city’s great industry of canning. The experience will be completed by a visual show with lasers and fireworks, local artists’ performances and a 2,500-seats eating area where eight restaurants will serve-up fresh-grilled sardines and traditional Portuguese tapas between 6.30pm and 11.00pm.
Courtesy Portugal LOL
For those interested in the Portuguese culture, Fado music will be performed every day between 20.00 and 22.00 at the Fado&Petiscos stage by various up and coming talents. In the meantime, Sardinha Stage will offer plenty of entertainment along a wide-ranging music and comedy program from 19.40 to 21.40 while the Main Stage will heat up the atmosphere with concerts and humor festivals running until midnight.
Artists performing at the Portimao Sardine Festival 2012 include MissyM, Xico Barata, Calcinha Preta, Boss AC, Serafim, comedian Herman Jose and more.
For tickets and additional info, please visit festivaldasardinha.pt
Photo of festival sign – courtesy Portugal LOL