Events in Loulé, Algarve

Here you will find lots of information about events in Loulé! 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; when and where the markets are in and around Loulé, what annual events take place and what up and coming events there are in our Loulé events listings. We also include events in some of the villages around Loulé like Querença and Salir (Alte has it's own resort guide) and don't forget to check Faro events and Quarteira events listings as both are only a short distance from Loulé.

Annual events in Loulé

• January: Querença Sausage Festival (Festa das Chouriças). A festival in honour of São Luis (the protector of animals) with a procession, musical entertainment and lots of tasty local sausages to enjoy!
• February Carnival: 3 days of parades, music and dancing, the 3rd day being Shrove Tuesday. The centre of Loulé (Avenida José da Costa Mealha) is shut off for the carnival and it costs 2 euros for entrance (2007). It is worth arriving early - the procession starts at 3.00pm but you will need time to find parking, especially if you haven't been to Loulé before.
  
    
• Easter Sunday - the beginning of the celebrations 'Feast of the Sovereign Mother', the patron saint of Loulé. Thousands of people come to see the procession and join in what is known as the “Festa Pequena”, the small feast. The 'Festa Grande' takes place 2 weeks later.
• Festa da Espiga - in Salir. A traditional festival on the Feast of Ascension (40 days after Easter).  "Espiga" is an arrangement of  ears of wheat (or other cereal) to symbolize abundance mixed with poppies, roses, daisies and marigolds to symbolize the beauty of the countryside and an olive branch for peace and hung inside of the house where it will stay until changed for a "new" espiga the following year. Folkgroups, a parade, music, local delicacies and fun for all the family make a special celebration.
• WRC Vodafone Portugal Rally in May is based at the Algarve Stadium
• Festival Med - June. Loulé plays host to the thousands of people who come for one of the most important cultural entertainment events in the Algarve, Festival Med celebrates  mediterranean music and culture, street entertainment, theatre, exhibitions, food and mediterranean inspired craftwork

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Algarve Bank holidays 2010

• Municipal holiday: Ascension day (40th day after Easter Sunday): May 13th
• January 1st - New Years Day
• February 16th - Carnaval
• April 2nd - Good Friday
• April 4th - Easter Sunday
• April 25th - Liberation Day
• May 1st - Labour Day
• June 3rd - Corpus Christi
• June 10th - Portugal Day
• August 15th - Assumption Day
• October 5th - Republic Day
• November 1st - All Saints
• December 1st - Restoration of Independence Day
• December 8th - Immaculate Conception
• December 25th - Christmas Day

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Markets in Loulé and surrounding areas

• Market in Loulé: every Saturday at the end of R. da Nossa Senhora da Piedade in front of Convento de St. António
• Market in Almancil: 1st and 4th Sunday of each month next to Escola C+S (school)
• Flea market in Almanci: 2nd and 5th Sunday of the month, next to Escola C+S
• Market in Alte: 3rd Thursday of the month in Largo José Cavaco Vieira
• Market in Ameixial: 1st Thursday of the month on the EN2
• Market in Azinhal: last Saturday of the month, next to the Primary School
• Market in Benafim: 1st Saturday of the month, Rua 25 de Abril
• Market in Boliqueime: last Thursday of the month in the Church Square
• Market in Cortelha: 2nd Saturday of the month
• Market in Quarteira: every Wednesday from 07.00 to 15.00, next to Jardim Filipe Jonas

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