In exactly one month's time, from 3 to 4 March, Vila Nova de Famalicão will once again be ‘The House of Carnival’ and home to all those who want to experience the most fun and spontaneous carnival celebrations in the country, in a night of unparalleled revelry.
For the longest and most eagerly awaited night of the year, and as in recent years, thousands of people are expected on the streets of the city of Famalicense. A ‘sea of people’ arriving in Famalicão from various parts of the country and spontaneously dressing up as superheroes or parodying current figures, bringing warmth, colour, joy and lots of fun to a winter's night warmed by the music that will be heard in every corner of the city.
The mayor anticipates ‘another great Carnival’ for Vila Nova de Famalicão.
Mário Passos believes that the people of Famalicão will once again make their presence felt and give strength and expression to a tradition that was born several decades ago by a small group of citizens. ‘Today the Famalicão Carnival is a brand that goes beyond the borders of our municipality, attracting thousands of people from other cities and is certainly a must for those who like to have fun and live this time of year with intensity,’ he adds.
From 20h30, the city centre is the meeting point for the big night of revelry, with entertainment on the streets, in the bars, restaurants and on the four stages where the municipality is in charge of the entertainment: Rua Luís Barroso, Praça 9 de Abril, Praça D. Maria II and the Praça - Municipal Market.
Also noteworthy are the Food Courts set up in Praceta Cupertino de Miranda and Rua Padre Benjamim Salgado and the usual masquerade parade and competition, with prizes for the top three, which takes place on the stage in Rua Luís Barroso.
It should be noted that the Famalicão Carnival is promoted and organised by the municipality in partnership with the Famalicão Commercial and Industrial Association (ACIF), the city's restaurants and bars, cultural, recreational, sporting and social solidarity associations and the municipality's schools.
To bring the thousands of revellers to the city, the municipality is once again preparing a major transport operation ‘to guarantee safety and comfort for those who choose Famalicão to experience Carnival,’ said Mário Passos. Free road transport within the municipality is guaranteed throughout the night, as well as the usual partnership with CP - Comboios de Portugal to provide a promotional ticket for 3 euros, return, on the Comboios Urbanos do Porto lines (only for advance sales, from 17 February to 1 March, at CP ticket offices).
Concern for sustainability is once again present, with the use of reusable plastic cups in all establishments, in an initiative coordinated by the ACIF - Commercial and Industrial Association of Famalicão.
Festivities kick off on February 28
Although the highlight of the festivities is scheduled for the evening of 3 March, in Famalicão Carnival kicks off on 28 February, when the Children's Carnival parade takes to the streets of the city. The costumed revellers begin their procession at 14h00, leaving from Rua Adriano Pinto Basto towards Parque 1º de Maio.
On Saturday, March 1, in S. Miguel de Seide, the Masks and Caretos exhibition opens and on Sunday, March 2, from 10h00, the Caretos parade takes place through the town centre, leaving from the Paços do Concelho.
On the afternoon of Monday 3 March, the seniors make way for the big party night, with the Senior Carnival Parade colouring the Municipal Pavilion.
On Tuesday, there are parades throughout the municipality. The festivities end with the traditional ‘Queima dos Galheiro’ in Fradelos, from 20h30, marking the end of the carnival festivities and the start of the Lenten season.
The programme is available for consultation at famalicao.pt.
