The heart of Vila Nova de Famalicão will be transformed into a veritable garden with another Flower Festival taking place from 9 to 11 May. The Battle of the Flowers, to be held on Sunday 11 May, and the Carolina Deslandes concert, on the evening of 10 May, are two of the highlights of the event, which also includes exhibitions, workshops, flower sales, parades, music and gastronomy.
The Battle of the Flowers, on Sunday afternoon, brings around three dozen associations to the streets of the city, with their floats, colourful costumes and props and lots of flowers to create a parade full of colour, joy and entertainment through the city's main streets to Praça D. Maria II.
During these three days, the centre of Famalicão will be decorated with floral ornaments made by around forty of the municipality's cultural collectives and floristry companies, who will be present in the area dedicated to the flower and plant trade, at the top north of Praça D. Maria II (Praceta Cupertino de Miranda). The space will be open on Friday and Saturday from 10h00 to 24h00 and on Sunday from 10h00 to 20h00.
To soothe the stomach, there will also be traditional food and drink in the taverns that also occupy part of Praça D. Maria II.
The cultural programme associated with the Flower Festival also includes, on Friday, the art of ‘En Plein Air’, concertina shows through the streets of the town (15h00 to 19h00), a concert by Helena Fernandes (21h30) and the ‘Chão de Estrelas’ project with various guest artists and the instrumental participation of the Banda Marcial de Arnoso Santa Maria and The Village Ensemble (22h30).
On Saturday there is a Fanfare Parade through the streets of the city, organised by the Famalicenses Volunteer Fire Brigade (15h00 to 17h00), a concert by Joaquim Carneiro and guests (20h30) and Maria Silva (21h30), which precedes the performance by Carolina Deslandes (22h30). On Sunday, after the Battle of Flowers, there is a concert by the Famalicão Band in Praceta Cupertino de Miranda. All this takes place free of charge on the stages set up in Praça D.Maria II.
Throughout the three days there will be street entertainment, an exhibition of floral ornaments, workshops in artistic ceramics, painting, embroidery, decorative arts, terrariums, paper flowers and children's theatre.
All events are free.
