JANUARY
Rally Lisboa – Dakar in Lisboa: Previously known as the Paris-Dakkar Rally is now departing from Lisbon and is the most famous rally in the world including trucks, four wheels and motorbikes. A must see for racing fans (http://www.dakar.com/ ).
FEBRUARY
Carnival Parade in the Algarve region: Due to the mild weather, the Algarve winter is the Portuguese answer to New Orleans Carnival. Parades take place in many villages and towns including: Loule, Quarteira, Alte, Paderne, Moncaparacho, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Monte Gordo, Tavira, etc. Also included are "samba" groups, music bands, dancing and live concerts.
Carnival Festivities in the Centro region: The most traditional Carnival parade in northern Portugal take place in the towns of Ovar and Figueira da Foz.
APRIL
Holy Week Celebrations in Óbidos (Lisboa Region): Easter celebrations last for 2 weeks and include a torchlight procession within the medieval castle's walls depicting the Passion of Christ (http://www.rt-oeste.pt/ ).
Holy Week Celebrations in the North region: In the city of Braga, the many churches hold the most impressive of all the Easter Celebrations in Portugal. Streets and churches are decorated with flowers and makeshift altars. The religious processions feature sacred art and several beautifully decorated floats (http://www.semanasantabraga.com/ ).
Festival of Our Lady of the Guadalupe in Mértola (Alentejo region): Local religious festival.
Celebrations of the Holy Ghost in the Azores region: The most important celebration in the Azores is the Holy Ghost celebrations that encompass several weeks of religious and non-religious events. The highlight of the celebrations is the coronation of a child as the Emperor who is presented with a scepter and crown on a silver plate, symbolizing the Holy Ghost (http://www.visitazores.org/ ).
Madeira Flower Festival in the Madeira region: Madeira celebrates spring by laying its streets with carpets made of flowers, and shop windows decorated with flowers, creating a unique and unforgettable experience. The major event is the Flower Show at Largo da Restauracao where impressive displays of flowers can be seen (http://www.madeiratourism.com/ ).
MAY
Celebration of Senhor Santo Cristo (Jesus Christ) in the Azores region: The precious image of Jesus Christ from Convento da Esperanca is the highlight of this major parade that has been taking place for many centuries on the fifth Sunday after Easter (http://www.visitazores.org/ ).
Our Lady of Fátima Celebration in Fátima (Lisbon region): The Fatima Sanctuary is a pilgrimage site for millions of Catholics from around the world and a place of devotion for most Portuguese people. May 12th and 13th are the most important days, when devotees and pilgrims from around the world congregate at the sanctuary to mark the anniversary of the first apparition in 1917 (http://www.rt-leiriafatima.pt/ ).
JUNE
Saint Anthony Festival in Lisboa: On June 12th, the neighborhoods of Alfama, Castelo, Mouraria and the Bairro Alto are filled with music and color to celebrate the birth in Lisboa of St. Anthony. This is the major event of the year in Lisbon. Fireworks and an impressive parade delight Lisbon inhabitants and tourists (http://www.visitlisboa.com/ ).
Saint John Festival in the North region: The traditional festival for the city of Porto. The city becomes an entire street festival with food, drinks and handicrafts (http://www.portoturismo.pt/ ).
Sintra Artist Festival in the Lisbon Region: The World Heritage Village of Sintra is the stage for a series of concerts and performing arts at the Olga de Cadaval Cultural Centre (http://www.cm-sintra.pt/ ).
Festival of the Atlantic in the Madeira region: This is an important event that combines entertainment and culture. This festival includes classic music and dance performances at Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias, Casa das Mudas at Calheta, Forum de Machico and in a number of churches. The Festival has acquired great interest with the introduction in recent years of the International Fireworks Competition, in which contestants display fireworks at the sound of music (http://www.madeiratourism.com/ ).
Celebrations of the Holy Ghost in the Azores region: Discover the Festivals of the Holy Ghost in the Azores, primarily in Terceira, São Jorge and Pico Islands attracting large numbers of visitors to the islands (http://www.visitazores.org/ ).
Saint Peter Festival in the Norh region: This is the major festival in Póvoa de Varzim with food, drinks, local crafts, dancing and cultural events (http://www.cm-pvarzim.pt/ ).
JULY
Horse Show at Queluz Palace in the Lisbon region: Every Wednesday in July, the Portuguese Horse School performs at the Queluz Palace Gardens along with tradition techniques that have long influenced Portuguese equestrian art. Several horse exercises are performed during the show, including the "Carroussel", a type of equestrian dance featuring ten Lusitanian horses. The Portuguese Horse School preserves the ancient and magnificent traditions of the old Portuguese equestrian art form (http://www.cm-sintra.pt/ ).
Festival of the Seas in Lisboa: A major cultural event stretching for 2 weeks including music, dance and theatrical performances (http://www.visitlisboa.com/ ).
The Gualterianas Festival in the North region: The former "Public Fair" of St. Gualter, has been recreated since 1906 according to old traditions in an uninterrupted way. This is the major annual event of the town of Guimarães. The celebrations feature amongst many events a Medieval Farmers market and parade of medieval costumes and artifacts (http://www.cm-guimaraes.pt/ ).
Kelp Boat Race in the Centro region: The city of Aveiro, known as the “Venice of Europe”, is doted with several lagoons and salt marshes where kelp extraction used to be a traditional industry. Keeping up with a long tradition, Kelp boats gather together for a traditional race. These boats are now kept for cultural purposes and to show-off the traditional industry of the region.
AUGUST
Festival of Our Lady of Healing in the North region: The Nossa Senhora dos Remedios festival is the most important event of the city of Lamego. Starting the last Thursday of August and running until September 8th, a large crowd gathers at this beautiful sanctuary (http://www.cm-lamego.pt/ ).
Festival of Our Lady of Agony in the North region: The most important festival in the city of Viana do Castelo. The event lasts for a week and includes street fairs, gourmet competitions, religious parades and the christening of fishing boats (http://www.cm-viana-castelo.pt/ ).
SEPTEMBER
Madeira Wine Festival in the Madeira region: The Madeira Wine Festival is held in September during the grape harvest season. This festival goes back to the day the first settlers arrived on the island (http://www.madeiratourism.org/ ).
Festival of Our Lady of Nazare in Lisbon region: The main day of this two week festival is September 8th. Nazaré is a fishing village and this festival includes several traditional events related to the thanksgiving of fisherman to their saint patron Our Lady of Nazaré (http://www.rt-leiriafatima.pt/ ).
St. Matthew's Market Fair in the Centro region: Taking place in the city of Viseu this market dates back from medieval times and has grown over the years to include traditional music and dancing, handicraft, gastronomy and other cultural events (http://www.rtdaolafoes.pt/ ).
Ponte de Lima Market Fair in the North region: Dating back to the 12th century, Feiras Novas is the most important harvest festival in northern Portugal. A traditional market, singing, dancing, eating and drinking are the highlights of the 4 day festival (http://www.cm-pontedelima.pt/ ).
OCTOBER
Game Season Gourmet Festival in the Alentejo region: The Game season in Alentejo starts at the end of September and October is the month that restaurants in this region show off their menu’s traditional game dishes that are only available in season (http://www.rt-planiciedourada.pt/ ).
Festival of the Saints in the North region: One of the largest events taking place in the city of Chanves. This is a traditional market fair showing a large and varied display of local handicrafts, food and produce (http://www.cm-chaves.pt/ ).
NOVEMBER
Festival of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at the town of Alvito, Alentejo region: Traditional market fair (http://www.cm-alvito.pt/ ).
National Horse Fair in Lisbon region: Taking place in the town of Golega. This is the most important event for horse breeders in Portugal. The festival includes several competitions and auctions.
Chocolate Festival at the town of Óbidos (Lisbon region): This event showcases a display of dishes which the main ingredient is chocolate. It also includes a chocolate confectioners competition and chocolate sculpture contest (http://www.rt-oeste.pt/ ).
The Chestnut Festival at Marvão, Alentejo region: The Chestnut is a favorite fruit in Portugal. This is the major traditional market for the local chestnut producers and includes also the selling of local handicraft and produce that is in season (http://www.cm-marvao.pt/ ).
Nicolinas in the North region: Celebrating the fall season, the Saint Nicolas festival in the city of Guimarães is also the oldest student party in the country. The festival features a farmers market, cultural events and competitions taking place right at the center of Guimarães (http://www.cm-guimaraes.pt/ ).
DECEMBER
New Year in Lisboa: New Year's is celebrated in Lisbon with several open air music concerts along the Tagus Bay ending with an impressive fireworks display (http://www.visitlisboa.com/ ).
New Year in Madeira Island: Madeira with mild temperature year round is a coveted destination by tourists at this time of the year. Along the bay of Funchal, music and dance performances are the highlight of the year's end celebrations. The fireworks display marking the New Year in the bay of Funchal is worldwide renown for its beauty and quality. This event gathers the largest concentration of cruise-liners in Madeira docked off-shore to celebrate the New Year and watch the impressive fireworks display.
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