Seeing Santa Claus arrive in style, skating in a natural ice rink and indulging in mouth-watering sweet delights are some of the attractions at Loulé’s Christmas programme.
The festive agenda will begin at 3pm on December 1 with Santa, who will be arriving in the town in “a surprising way” which so far is being kept under wraps. He and his elves will be meeting with children and handing out gifts at Praça da República.
The occasion will be celebrated with music by the Grupo Coral Infantil de Loulé (Loulé children’s choir) who will be singing original songs as well as all the Christmas hits we know and love.
Santa will also visit Quarteira a day later at 11am at Jardim Filipe Jonas and Almancil at 3.30pm at Jardim das Comunidades.
Returning once again is Loulé’s ‘Aldeia dos Sonhos’, a Christmas village that features Santa’s grotto, toys, snowmen, a carrousel, a mini Ferris wheel, bouncy castles, face painting, theatrical performances, storytelling and Christmas-themed food.
The village will be divided into four sections, each comprising an unmissable attraction. Cerca do Convento will be the central location where Santa’s grotto can be visited while the elves’ village will be based at Alcaidaria do Castelo. The natural ice rink will be set up at Praça D. Afonso III.
A novelty this year is that the municipal market is part of the fun, hosting a sweets fair (Mercado de Doces) where visitors will be able to enjoy mouth-watering chocolates, crepes and waffles.
During the festive programme, the market will also be hosting musical performances on Friday nights. Fado singer César Matoso will be the first to perform on December 7, followed by the Algarve Jazz Orchestra (December 14), gospel group Shout (December 21) and The Bottles, a Beatles tribute band (December 28).
There will also be a performance by the Grupo Coral Infantil de Loulé on December 30, which will mark the closure of ‘Aldeia dos Sonhos’.
The Christmas village will be open between December 6 and 30 with the following schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (2.30pm to 7pm); Fridays (2.30pm to 10.30pm); Saturdays (10am to 7pm). Admission is free.
But there are many other initiatives to look out for during the Christmas season in the borough of Loulé.
From December 1 to 25, local businesses will be taking part in a contest to see which shop has the best Christmas window display.
Loulé’s Feira da Serra will be held on December 8 at Avenida José da Costa Mealha with a variety of handicraft and food products on display between 10am and 5pm.
A charity initiative entitled ‘Encontro de Camisolas’ encouraging citizens to hit the street in their full Christmas attire while contributing with toys, food and clothes to help those in need will be held on December 15.
In Quarteira, a special musical Christmas show for children will be held on December 9 called ‘O Mundo da Sara’. It will be held at Pavilhão Drª Laura Ayes at 3.30pm, with tickets costing €5.
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
