Top 10 Summer Events
Summer has begun, and with it comes good weather, music and parties until dawn! If you are spending your holiday in the south of Portugal, be sure to check out some of the best events in the Algarve. Plan your holiday and mark in your calendar the 10 events that will celebrate the summer of 2022 in the Algarve.
Days in the Algarve can start early in the morning on one of the most beautiful beaches near Estrela da Luz. You can dedicate the afternoon to a stroll through the various sights of Lagos, and at night you can get carried away by the multiple events taking place in the Algarve. Check out the upcoming sports events, concerts or art exhibitions in the region.
Looking for other activities to do during your holiday? Read our article on "11 Locations to Visit in the Algarve" and fill your days in the best way.
Events for July 2022 in the Algarve:
1. Faro Oeste photo exhibition
Photographer Pauliana Pimentel presents a photo exhibition in an installation about the way of life of gipsy families in the Algarve at the Centro Cultural de Lagos. The photographer took the pictures in Faro, Loulé and Boliqueime in 2019 to show how these families preserve their traditions over the centuries. As the gipsy community in Portugal is still marginalised, this work aims to combat existing prejudices and stereotypes.
Centro Cultural de Lagos - 4 June to 16 July 2022 (Room 2).
2. Rolling Loud Music Festival
It is considered the biggest hip-hop festival in the world and will be held in Europe for the first time in 2022. The venue for this summer festival will be Praia da Rocha, just a few metres from the sea. For three days, the hip-hop and trap styles will be present through the voices of A$ap Rocky, Future, J. Cole and many other artists such as DaBaby, Lil Baby and Baby Keem. The sounds of Afrobeat, R&B and Dancehall will also be part of these three nights in Portimão. To secure your ticket for the three days, you should visit the official Rolling Loud Festival website.
Praia da Rocha - 6 to 8 July 2022 (Rocha beach).
3. GC32 Racing Tour nautical event
With the World Circuit Races in July, Lagos Harbour will once again welcome flying catamarans. Since 2018, this race has been hosted in Lagos. This year, Marina de Lagos has invested in new infrastructure to accommodate these boats. Lagos offers the perfect conditions for this race of high-speed catamarans. Seven teams will compete in 2022, including Team Alinghi, which won three of the four legs last year. The GC32 Racing Tour will bring together the world's best sailors in Lagos, just minutes from Estrela da Luz.
Marina de Lagos - 13 to 17 July 2022 (Lagos coast).
4. Mercado de Culturas à Luz das Velas Cultural event
The seventh edition of this event in Lagoa is themed "Diverculturas & Diversons" and reflects the cultural diversity present in the six previous editions. This event will feature 6 cultures from different parts of the world: Islamic culture, Jewish-Sephardic culture, Celtic culture, the Silk Road, Africa and the Mediterranean. The highlight of the four nights will be the lighting of thousands of candles representing this culture’s symbols. Many venues in Lagoa will host art exhibitions, concerts, shopping and restaurants during this free event.
Lagoa - 14 to 17 July 2022 (city centre).
5. Concentração Motard de Faro Motor event
After a two-year break, the famous Faro Bike Meet returns to the Algarve. The destination of this event is Faro, and to get there, thousands of motorcyclists cross the roads of the country and Europe to meet. This is the 40th edition, with performances from the British band Sisters of Mercy, the Danes D-A-D and the ubiquitous Xutos e Pontapés representing Portugal. There are also motorbike stands with the latest models, food stalls and the usual tattoo parlours. For more information, visit the Moto Club de Faro website.
Faro - 14 to 17 July 2022 (near Faro Airport).
6. Lota Cool Market night market
Participate in one of the Algarve's coolest night markets. This year, the Lota Cool Market hopes to make the event even more environmentally friendly. To this end, brands with sustainable products will be present, whose main aim is to showcase their original and eco-friendly creations. The event will start at 6.00 pm and last until 1.00 am. There will be food trucks and musical performances in an iconic Portimão location. Lota Cool Market will take place on the waterfront, next to the newly renovated "Antiga Lota."
Portimão - 21 to 24 July 2022 (old fish market)
7. Arte Doce Competition Fair gastronomic event
Like so many other events, the Lagos Arte Doce Competition Fair returns after a two-year hiatus with the Algarve's biggest gastronomic event. The 33rd edition will be even bigger and will host the Extremadura region. The focus of this event is dedicated to sweets, with exhibitions, tastings and competitions in four categories: "Free Theme", "Compulsory Theme" (centenary of the arrival of the train to Lagos), "Quality in Tradition" (regional sweets) and "Innovation Sweets". Concerts by artists are planned to accompany the event: Rui Veloso (27th), Gabriel, o Pensador (28th), Dillaz (29th), Bárbara Bandeira (30th) and Mariza (31st).
Lagos - 27-31 July 2022 (Complexo Desportivo de Lagos).
Events for August 2022 in the Algarve:
8. Festival da Sardinha gastronomic event
This festival, as the name suggests, celebrates sardine, a popular summer fish. Several restaurants in the city are represented at this festival in Portimão, where sardine, boiled potatoes and Algarve-style salad are not to be missed. The food and drink sections also highlight regional sweets, as well as handicrafts and musical moments. During the 5 days, you can enjoy concerts by João Leote e Mariza Liz (3rd), David Fonseca (4th), Bárbara Tinoco (5th), Wet Bed Gang (6th) and David Carreira (7th). This festival, organised by Portimão City Council, has been named "The Best Summer Gastronomic Event in Europe" by the travel website Big 7 Travel.
Portimão - 3 to 7 August 2022 (riverside area).
9. Banho 29 traditional event
This is one of the most anticipated events for Lagos residents and many visitors who look forward to this annual recreational event. People traditionally take a dip in the sea during the night of August 28-29. On this night, a bath is thought to be worth 29 baths, and the dive is assumed to be a form of purification. The event symbolises the end of summer, and at that time, the countryside workers would come to the coast and practise this ritual until late at night. Today, it is a celebration that does not lack musical moments and typical "petiscos" (the Portuguese version of tapas) in the streets of Lagos. The programme for this event has not yet been announced, but keep an eye on the city council's website and be sure to take a dip in the sea at midnight on 28-29 August.
Lagos - 28-29 August 2022 (several beaches in Lagos).
Events for September 2022 in the Algarve:
10. Flamenco Festival dance event
2022 will mark the 20th anniversary of the oldest flamenco festival in Portugal. It will take place in Lagos, where guitars will spread Hispanic sounds with their own identity, while the characteristic dance of Spain will accompany the soulful voices. The event will feature several flamenco dance groups performing at the Centro Cultural de Lagos on September 15th from 9.00 pm to 00.00 am.
Lagos - 15 September 2022 (Centro Cultural de Lagos).
Spend your holiday with the best summer events in the Algarve. If you have any questions about these or other events, please contact the Estrela da Luz reception. We wish you a pleasant holiday in our company!