The small village of Parises in São Brás de Alportel will pay tribute to Our Lady of Fátima
An iconic celebration known as ‘Festa dos Tabuleiros Florados’ (Flower Tray Festival) will bring the small village of Parises in the Serra do Caldeirão mountains to life this weekend (May 10-11).
At the heart of the festival is the decoration and display of ‘tabuleiros’, large trays adorned with fresh flowers and symbolic offerings, particularly small breads (brandeirinhos), representing fertility and a prayer for abundance.
The celebration opens on Saturday morning at 9am with a pilgrimage from São Brás de Alportel to the chapel in Parises, organized by the local Scouts group (Agrupamento 1330). At 3pm, participants can take part in two challenging guided walks – one along the EN2 national road and another through trails linked to the Via Algarviana, with support provided by the municipality. Registrations must be made by 4pm on Friday (May 9) by telephone (+351 289 840 000) or email (municipe@cm-sbras.pt). As night falls, the traditional candlelit procession will take place in the churchyard of Parises at 9.30pm.
Sunday’s program begins with a morning walk at 9.30am near Casa da Serra to gather flowers from the surrounding countryside. These will be used in an intergenerational workshop where residents and visitors – young and old – will prepare the iconic flower trays and bake festive biscuits, in a bid to pass on this craft to future generations.
From noon, the village’s park will host a vibrant market featuring local products, crafts, and traditional food. At 3.30pm, the religious heart of the event unfolds with a Eucharist in honour of Our Lady of Fátima, followed by an afternoon of live music and the anticipated flower tray auction.
