Portugal’s oldest Carnival parade is returning to Loulé from February 15 to 17, promising showstopping parades that mix humour, satire and pop culture.
This year’s theme, “Super Carnival”, brings iconic superheroes to the streets in a sharp-edged satire of political, social and sporting life, organisers say. The parade sets off daily at 3pm along Avenida José da Costa Mealha and features 14 floats, more than 600 performers, samba schools, giant figures, jugglers, community groups and even a DJ, pumping out tunes from across the Atlantic.
At the heart of the festivities is Zé Povinho, a historic cartoon character created in the 19th century who personifies the Portuguese people. During the festivities, he will be reimagined as a caped crusader taking on rising living costs, pressure on the National Health Service (SNS) and the housing crisis.
The ongoing presidential elections continue to provide excellent opportunities for political satire, which the parades will take advantage of with one float reimagining the race to Belém through an underwater fantasy, featuring two candidates who lost in the first round, with Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo as Aquaman and Luís Marques Mendes as Nemo.
Portugal’s long-running Operation Marquês sees former prime minister José Sócrates cast as the Joker, the ultimate villain in a superhero-themed parade.
Sporting satire also remains a Carnival staple and Cristiano Ronaldo once again takes centre stage. From his high-profile reception by US President Donald Trump to his seemingly untouchable status as a starter and captain for the national team, “Super Ronaldo” is portrayed as an ever-present force – even when his form is debated.
Portuguese football rivalries also come under the spotlight, with the presidents of the “Big Three” clubs reimagined as superheroes and mythical creatures: Frederico Varandas (Sporting) as the Hulk in green, Rui Costa (Benfica) as the Falcon defender of Benfica, and André Villas-Boas (FC Porto) as a dragon, locked in a battle for the league title.
International affairs have also provided excellent material for satire. Tensions in Venezuela are lampooned in a float showing Donald Trump as Captain America intercepting a boat carrying Nicolás Maduro, while even the ghost of Hugo Chávez makes a cameo appearance.
Thousands of visitors are expected for what promises to be another major Carnival celebration in the Algarve. Tickets cost €2, with proceeds supporting participating associations and social causes.
