From birdwatching and golf to music and spa treatments, everyday truly counts in the Algarve
Birdwatching, gastronomy, world-class golf, music and special spa deals are among the highlights of the first month of the ‘365 Algarve’ programme, which is returning for its fourth edition in October.
Under the motto “everyday counts”, the programme was created in 2016 to highlight the region’s potential outside the summer season and create a cultural agenda that would give holidaymakers even more reasons to visit.
Between this October and May 2020, the Algarve will host hundreds of events including concerts, plays, dance performances, gastronomic events and much more.
One of the highlights in October is the annual Sagres Birdwatching Festival, which will take place between Thursday, October 10 and Sunday, October 13.
The event attracts thousands of bird and nature lovers every year for its wide range of activities including birdwatching, dolphin watching boat trips, nighttime walks to spot butterflies and much more. This year, there will also be drawing and photography workshop.
Another “365 Algarve” event that is certain to garner attention is a new gastronomic initiative entitled ‘Forgotten Food’, which aims to shine the spotlight on traditional foods that are “disappearing” from our tables because they are “associated with poverty or have lost their agricultural value”.
‘Forgotten Food’ will take place between October and May in nine Algarve municipalities, with the first being a ‘charm picnic’ to be held on Saturday, October 19 in São Marcos da Serra, Silves.
Making a return is Silves’ ‘Jazz nas Adegas’ which sees local wineries hosting jazz concerts in what has become a hugely popular initiative. The first event will be held on Saturday, October 5 in Silves historic centre and is already sold out.
The second round of the Algarve Spa Week is also being held this month between October 5 and 13, offering up to 50% off on treatments at some of the region’s top spas.
The annual BLiP (Better Living in Portugal) exhibition takes place on October 12 and 13 at Portimão Arena. Primarily aimed at the foreign community living in Portugal but now an event for all, BLiP will feature nearly 100 exhibitors who will be available to talk to visitors about their products and services – “providing residents and property owners with the means to enjoy the best possible life in Portugal”, say organisers.
For sports fans, Vilamoura will be hosting the prestigious Portugal Masters golf tournament between October 24 and 27 at the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.
Information on these and other events can be found in ‘Guia Algarve’, a guide in Portuguese and English launched every month detailing what is going on in the Algarve (click here). The physical guide is also distributed for free at Faro Airport, hotels, travel agencies, rent-a-cars and golf courses.
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
