Events in Portugal

Dating back to 1975, the Estoril Music Festival is a 5 week long celebration of music. The town is only 15 km west of Lisbon making it very convenient even if you're only staying for the weekend. The festival includes giant orchestral and choral concerts, outdoor band converts and chamber and song recitals. Catch a performance or two by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra among many others.

Each year top international rock acts come to Paredes de Coura in north-west Portugal for the town's annual music festival. This year the Sex Pistols, Primal Scream, The Mars Volta and Thievery Corporation are headlining. If you find those performers to be a little too loud you can also find jazz shows and screenings of music documentaries for those tired of moshing.

September is the time for the world famous wine harvest in Madeira so what better way to celebrate than a Wine Festival. The festival starts with a “live harvest” show as the process to make wine is started by the smashing of grapes by foot in front of an excited crowd. Wine from Madeira has become world famous, which translates into an ever growing popularity of the Madeira Wine Festival.

All Souls' Day (Dia de Finados) is a day when many Portugese families spend the day with those who have passed away. Flowers are laid at family graves, while local cemeteries are cleaned up and even some hold special masses or processions. While others just spend the day remembering or reminiscing about beloved one's who have passed on.

Each year athletes from Portugal, Europe and farther arrive in Lisbon to compete in a test of endurance and speed. This year is the 23rd Lisbon International Marathon. The competitors of various skills levels will run a course that takes them by many of the city's most notorious landmarks.