A parade featuring Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and their usual entourage of elves and gnomes will mark the official launch of Christmas season in the municipality of Loulé.
Starting at 3pm on Saturday (November 29), the parade will run through the main streets of Loulé and will be followed by the opening of Loulé’s Christmas Village, spanning Cerca do Convento, Largo Afonso III and Largo de São Francisco. Visitors exploring the area will find a Santa house, elf workshops, a toy factory and sweet shops, as well as an ice rink, carousels, live entertainment, music, face painting, storytelling sessions and confectionery stalls.
One of this year’s main attractions will be a 22-metre-tall illuminated snowman installed in Praça da República, in front of the Loulé municipal market. The structure will remain on display and fully lit up for the duration of the festive season.
Quarteira will offer its Praça Natal at Praça do Mar and in front of the Centro Autárquico building, while Almancil will present Jardim dos Sonhos in the Jardim das Comunidades – two Christmas-themed areas which will provide festive entertainment throughout the season. Santa will also arrive in both towns on Sunday (November 30) at 11.30am (Quarteira) and 4pm (Almancil).
Christmas lights will also be switched on this weekend across all 11 parishes of the municipality.
Alongside the entertainment programme, Loulé is launching the “Um Natal Especial” (A Special Christmas) campaign to support local businesses. Dozens of shops across the municipality have joined the initiative, organised by the municipal council in partnership Algarve retailers’ association ACRAL. Until January 5, customers will receive a participation coupon for every €10 spent in participating stores. Two prize draws, on December 18 and January 6, will each award €15,000 in local shopping vouchers, and the final draw on January 6 will also offer holiday trips. Details and a list of participating stores are available online.
The campaign aims to promote local commerce by highlighting the originality of products and the close relationship between retailers and consumers, complementing the wider Christmas programme taking place across the municipality.
