The Algarve town of Lagos was chosen to host the Portugal Day celebrations
The official celebrations for Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas) begin this Monday in Lagos, with the national flag due to be raised at Praça do Infante D. Henrique in the presence of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The ceremony was originally set for 10am but was delayed until 1pm due to the late arrival of the president, who was in Germany last night where he and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro attended the UEFA Nations League final, won by Portugal which defeated Spain in a penalty shootout in Münich.
After the flag-raising, the president is scheduled to visit a military exhibition at Jardim da Constituição, where the Portuguese Armed Forces are displaying an array of equipment.
Later in the evening, a free concert by the Army’s Orquestra Ligeira is scheduled for 9.30pm, again at Praça do Infante D. Henrique, open to the public.
The main event of the celebrations takes place on Tuesday, June 10, starting at 11am along the town’s riverside Avenida dos Descobrimentos. The day will include formal speeches by President Marcelo and writer and Algarve native Lídia Jorge, who leads the organising committee for this year’s event.
These will be Marcelo’s final Portugal Day celebrations as President, marking his 10th year in office.
