There are things to do in Porto during every season of the year. Some events include:
- January
- Dia de Reis is celebrated on January 6th and is considered the end of a series of Christmas-time celebrations occurring throughout the end of the year. Visitors in the area at this time should be sure to try some of the “King’s cake” which is a critical part of the celebration.
- February
- There is a large film festival held in Porto every February, drawing in visitors from all over the filmmaking world.
- Everything is in bloom in this month so it is an excellent time to travel. For more about when to go to Porto in terms of weather and seasons, visit http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g18... .
- June
- Festa de Sao Goncalo takes place the first weekend of the month to celebrate fertility. This is a romantic festival made up of lots of fun events.
- Every year on the evening of 23th to 24th of June the São João festivity takes place. People go to the streets and beat each other with childish plastic hammers. It is one of the most important festivity in Portugal, the major one at Porto.
- August
- Assumption Day is celebrated on August 15th each year. It is a festival made up of parades, street festivals, and costumed events throughout the day. Once the sun goes down, the celebration culminates with fireworks.
- December
- There are a number of Christmas-time events held in the area, celebrated locally with parades and street festivals. There are also arts and crafts fairs and other winter seasonal events at this time. Porto’s night of São João - On June 24, 2009 the São João festival is one of Europe’s liveliest street parties. While there is a religious element to the traditions, it is a huge street party that attracts people from all over to Porto’s historic center on the Douro river banks - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The free festival features music on the main square, the smell of grilled sardines from grills on the street, lit up balloons, boats in the river, and a grand firework display. Afterwards revelers take to the narrow streets of the old city armed with plastic hammers and wild garlic stalks, banging each other on the head - a tradition whose origins are unknown but is continued every year. The center of the action then shifts to the beaches on the Douro estuary for a beach party that usually lasts well into the early hours.
Festival Vilar de Mouros - This international summer festival in July features up and coming bands from around the world, a dance tent, and the opportunity to camp under the stars after the show. Vilar de Mouras is located on the Rio Coura, which is southeast from Caminha on the River Minho and the northern border of Spain.
http://www.vilardemouros.com/
Cerveira International Arts Biennial - In odd numbered years, the Cerveira International Arts Biennial transforms the tranquil town of Vila Nova da Cerveira in the Minho region into an important center for contemporary art. From Friday, July 17, 2009 through Saturday, September 26, 2009, the town serves as the stage for encounters and exchanges of experiences between artists, via ateliers dedicated to a wide array of areas including the digital arts, engraving, ceramics, painting and sculpture. The biennial’s program also includes thematic exhibitions in the areas of design and dedicated to artists who have played a key role in the history of contemporary art.
Festas Gualterianas - Guimarães hosts the Festas Gualterianas, the first weekend in August, which has brought great life and entertainment to this city for more than a century. The main event of the celebrations is the procession held in honor of São Gualter (St. Walter). This takes place on the Sunday, but the variety of entertainment includes more than enough activities to appeal to everyone. There is also a historical parade, a battle fought with flowers, bullfighting, fireworks and live music.
http://www.aoficina.pt
Festivities of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios - In September, Lamego hosts the festivities of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, featuring the Procession of the Triumph, the most symbolic part of the event. During the procession the Virgin is pulled by yoked oxen, making Lamego the only place in the Catholic world where an image of the Virgin is transported by animals.
Guimarães Jazz - The Guimarães Jazz Festival offers an event jazz fans should not miss. The first festival in 1992 was considered by critics to be the best of the year. Every year since then, in the first weeks of November, the festival has revealed a whole host of new talents. It is now regarded as a showcase for new musical directions and budding musicians, giving the audience the chance to appreciate some of the latest and most original trends in jazz.
http://www.ccvf.pt
Super Bock Super Rock Festival - The massive rock annual festival Super Bock Super Rock takes place in Porto’s Parque da Cidade this July. The event moves on to Lisbon after Porto, but each city has different acts. This year, rock fans can look forward to watching the likes of ZZ Top, Jamiroquai, Crowded House, Paolo Nutini and Morcheeba. The festival begins at 3p.m. and costs: day pass 35 euros, 2-day pass 60 euros. Porto Jazz Festival - This annual event features numerous concerts at Rivoli Municipal Theatre with performances by both new and established talent. In 2004, the festival featured the jazz talents of The Lee Konitz Nonet, Dee Dee Bridgewater, The Jacky Terrasson Trio and The Greg Osby Five. There is usually also a jazz seminar/workshop. Dates: September through November 2009.
Feasts of Nossa Senhora da Agonia - In Viana do Castelo, take part in the Feasts of Nossa Senhora da Agonia, and don’t miss all the processions that enliven this three-day festival in August. The festival is held Wednesday, August 19, through Sunday, August 23, 2009. The town is filled with thousands of people who come to witness Viana do Castelo honoring the Virgin of Agony, invoked by the fishermen to make the sea more favorable to them.
http://www.rtam.pt