Festivals

Arrabida Candle-Lit Procession - July (Vila Nogueira de Azeitao)

Festivals of Arrabida and Azeitao - mid-July (Vila Nogueira de Azeitao)

Festival of St Peter - end of July (S. Pedro de Alcube)

Festival of Our Lady of El Carmen - mid-August (chapel of Our Lady of El Carmen)

Festival of Our Lady of the Conception

Festival of Our Lady of Health - beginning of September (Vila Fresca de Azeitao)

Markets and Fairs in Azeitao

Market :

1st Sunday of the month

Antiques Fair :

2nd Sunday of the month

(1st and 2nd Saturday of the month between October and March)

Gastronomy & Artcraft Fair :

3rd Sunday of the Month

JUNE

International Film Festival - Festroia

The most important cultural event in the Municipality, and one of the major festivals of Portuguese cinema. This event started in 1985 and in its 20 years of existence its main aim has been to bring to public attention little known film-makers. Extra-competition, some great films or retrospectives are shown which deserve recognition for their artistic or historic importance.

When: In May

Faralhao Dance and Song Group Folklore Festival

Performances by different folk-dance groups from all over the country.

When: 1st Saturday in June

Popular Saints

The Popular Saints used to be one of the big festival times in the Setubal region. On St John day (S. Joao) in particular the various streets would compete with one another to see which was the liveliest and best decorated. There used to be parties and plenty of entertainment with dancing and parades through the city streets.

The the people of Setubal do not want to forget their past and so some of these traditions are being revived.

When: on the eves of St Anthony, St John and St Peter (13, 24 and 29 June)

JULY / AUGUST

Praias do Sado Folklore Festival

Organized by the Rancho Folclorico das Praias do Sado, this is a gathering of folk dance groups from various parts of the country.

When: 1st weekend in July

Festa of Nossa Senhora da Arrabida (Cirio Novo de Setubal)

Festival of fishermen and sailors from the Bairro de Troino as a tribute to their holy protectress. The celebrations used to begin on a Friday, with bands marching through the city announcing the festival. On the Saturday the boat would depart for the convent. On the Sunday there were religious ceremonies and it would return on the Monday, in a martime procession.

The time spent in the convent was one of endless fun, with food, singing challenges and dancing that lasted long into the night.

Today, there is one less day of festivities and the procession is on land.

When: beginning of July

Festival of Nossa Senhora da Arrabida (Cirio de Azeitao)

The people from Azeitao have a great devotion for Our Lady of Arrabida to whom they pay homage first during the Espirito Santo (Holy Spirit) festival (April-May), and then again in July.The procession, which is by horse, is again one of the high points of this lively festival.

Like the Setubal festival, the celebrations here have been reduced by one day.

When: 2nd fortnight in July

Sant'Iago Fair

This Fair has been in existence for over 400 years, and it is still both the main fair in the Setubal area and one of the biggest in southern Portugal. Firms and institutions attend the Satn'Iago Fair, rubbing shoulders with the traditional trinket sellers and handicrafts stalls. There is always entertainment and an attractive programme of shows.

When: in July / August

Where: Parque Sant'Iago (Manteigadas)

Festival of Nossa Senhora do Rosario de Troia

A festival for the seafarers in the eastern part of the city, this one has kept its traditional features intact.The sailors, their families and other pilgrims camp out on the beach for several days and give free reign to their joy with parties, dancing, traditional games and feasting, with fish always figuring largely. The religious ceremonies take place on the Sunday, after a procession around the chapel.

The boats compete with one another for the prize for having the finest decoration, and the winner is honoured with the distinction of carrying the image of Our Lady in the return procession to Setubal.

When: beginning of August

Festival of the Sado

The River Sado is the centrepiece of these festivities. A source of wealth and a place of inspiration and recreation, it is evoked in this festival, through a vast range of events embracing gastronomy, nature activities, the arts and popular shows and performances. Several food and drink events take place during the Festival

When: From June to September

Festas do Moinho de Mare da Mourisca

This is organized by the Associaçao Esteiros, and represents the activities and traditions of the people living on the Sado Estuary.Crafts fair, gastronomy competition and lots of fun

When: end of August

SEPTEMBER

Festivties of Senhora da Saude

Festivties of Senhora da Saude

This is the festival of Vila Fresca de Azeitao. Starting simply as a religious festival, this 280 year-old event has also come to involve a secular component, since the 19th century.

Today, the celebrations for Our Lady of Health still retain much of the authenticity of the festivals of days gone by - the Mass and the procession, but the bazar, too, the bandstand for the groups of musicians and the horses.

When: in the 1st week of September

Festanima

Festival of the collectivities in the Parish of S. Sebastiao, it began in 2003, a few lively fun-filled days promoting traditional local delicacies.

When: September

Bocage Festival

Festival to commemorate the poet, Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage, born in Setubal in 1765, and regarded as one of the most important figures in Portuguese poetry.

When: 15 September-Municipal Bank Holiday

We thank the Council Of Setubal for this information

EVENTSCALENDAR

Public Hollidays

* 1st January

* Carnival - 24th February

* Good Friday - 9th April

* Easter - 11th April

* 25th April

* 1st May

* 10th June

* Corpus Christi 10th June

* l5th August

* 5th October

* 1st November

* 1st December

* 8th December

* 25th December

The traditional festivals, which express some of the most deeply held beliefs of the people, involve a picturesque mixture of the religious and the profane. The festivals held in the area of Azeitao still conserve the spirit and simplicity of times gone by. These are religious rituals and festivals in which traditions (such as the arraial, or gathering, the kermess, popular games, local bands) coexist with sporting activities and modern music, in a joyous celebration that culminates with a firework display.