From July 30 to August 4, Portimão’s free riverside event will serve the staple “Festival Dish” of sardines and sides for €10.50.
With less than a month to go until the 2024 Sardine Festival kicks off on July 30, Portimão is gearing up for a unique and affordable event. The festival has proudly announced its staple “Festival Dish” will maintain its price while overall prices increase this year.
The 28th Sardine Festival, taking place from July 30 to August 4 along the city’s riverside area, will welcome visitors from 18h00 to 24h00. The event, which is free of entry fee, will once again serve the “Prato Festival” for €10.50.
The staple menu includes five grilled sardines, bread, boiled potatoes, and an Algarvian-style salad (excluding drinks).
The special menu is available at this price thanks to the involvement of local associations like Boa Esperança Atlético Clube Portimonense, Clube Desportivo e Recreativo da Pedra Mourinha, Clube União Portimonense, GEJUPCE – Gil Eanes Juventude Portimonense Clube, and Grupo Desportivo and Recreativo Alvorense.
In addition to the main location, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy grilled sardines at six collaborating restaurants by the waterfront, including Dona Barca, Forte e Feio, Retiro do Peixe Assado, Peixarada, Ú Venâncio, and Zizá, with each place determining its prices.
The festival will also include a diverse show cooking programme with guest chefs collaborating with the Confraria Gastronomica da Sardinha de Portimão. They will showcase alternative dishes to the traditional sardines, but with sardines as a key ingredient.
For those who prefer something other than grilled sardines, the “communities and exhibitor” area has plenty of menus and recommendations to offer, such as snacks, sweets, and the finest products from regional crafts and the agricultural food sector.
The event, recognised as the “best summer food festival in Europe” in 2022 by Big 7 Travel and a finalist for the AHRESP 2023 Award, is known for its musical entertainment across three stages: “Música no Jardim,” “Palco Sardinha,” and “Palco Principal.”
Shows on the main stage start at 22h00, with the following lineup: Áurea (July 30), Sara Correia (July 31), Anjos (August 1), Richie Campbell (August 2), Marisa Liz (August 3) and Delfins (August 4).
More information can be found on the event’s official website: www.festivaldasardinha.pt
