Vila do Porto Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Vila do Porto, Azores, Portugal)

The Portuguese are a festive group of people, especially when it comes to religious matters, and Vila do Porto is by no means an exception to this. Each town in the Azorean archipelago marks a day to observe its own patron saint, so you will find small events scattered across Santa Maria and other islands throughout the year.

One of the most exciting festivals in the Azores is the running of the bulls, which lasts for months in summer and is known locally as the Touradas à Corda. Tourists will find that there are plenty of other festive things to do in the summer months. During the off-season, November to April, the events schedule is more relaxed and religious.

Vila Do Porto Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day (Ano Novo) - January 1st, towns all over Santa Maria have their own way of celebrating New Year's Day, but Vilo Do Porto generally has the best line-up of events and fireworks

February

• Carnival (Carnaval) - leading up to the Lenten season, towns all over the Azores host parades and lively parties, peaking the day before Ash Wednesday

March

• Easter (Páscoa) - special Masses are held in local churches to celebrate Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with most events being family centred

April

• Liberation Day (Dia da Liberdade) - April 25th marks the military coup of 1974. Locals have the day off from work and bigger communities throughout the Azores plan parades and fireworks

May

• Labour Day - May 1st, festive day off with various family oriented outdoor activities planned
• Pentecost - 50 days after Easter Sunday, the Easter season is finalised with important church services marking the 'birthday' of the Church

June

• Azores Day (Dia dos Acores) - June 1st, a national Portuguese holiday and a good excuse to have fun in the sun
• Festival of Santo Antonio - takes place the second week in June in the neighbouring community of Santo Espirito
• Portugal Day - June 10th, remembering Lui de Camoes, Portugal's national poet, who died on this day in 1580
• Festival of St. Joao - late June, this well-attended religious celebration takes place right in the heart of town

July

• Cultural Week of Sao Jorge - first week of July, worth heading to Sao Jorge for the open-air fair and whaleboat races alone. The town of Calheta also has cultural exhibitions this month
• Cais de Agosto - usually held the last weekend in July, this musical event draws visitors and Azoreans to the island of Pico

August

• Festival of Our Lady of the Assumption - mid-August, Vila Do Porto's largest religious festival, honouring the town's esteemed patron saint
• Mare de Agosto Festival - third week in August, a musical festival staged for several days on Formosa Beach, drawing attendees and musicians from all over the world

September

• Running of the Bulls (Touradas à Corda) - the Azorean version of the running of the bulls, taking place throughout the summer and coming to a head in September. The best events are staged on the island of Terceira

October

• Republic Day - October 5th, celebrating the 1910 collapse of the monarchy, widely viewed as the beginning of Portuguese independence

November

• All Saints Day (Todos os Santos) - November 1st, a sombre religious festival that honours those who have already died. Religious locals make a point of reflecting on lost loved ones

December

• Independence Day - December 1st, remembering an early milestone in independence, the overthrow of Spanish occupiers in the 17th century. This is now a bank holiday leading into the festive Christmas season
• Day of the Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceicao) - December 1st, a national Portuguese holiday
• Christmas (Natal) - December 25th, with few tourists in the Azores, Christmas is mainly observed by locals through family gatherings, special Masses and a procession through the streets of Vila Do Porto