As a devout and religious country, Easter is a true celebration in Portugal. The entire week, starting from Palm Sunday, is celebrated with processions and religious traditions. In 2024, Palm Sunday is March 24th with Easter Sunday the following week on March 31st.
Easter Sunday is definitely a time for family, so the Algarve is the perfect place to bring yours for Easter!
Easter events in the Algarve in 2024
Should you want to embrace the Algarve’s traditional approach to Easter and experience the culture, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking for family fun, there will be plenty going on.
Loulé:
Festa da Mãe Soberana/Feast of the Sovereign Mother – Loulé: This is one of the biggest processions in the country, taking place on Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday, the image of Our Lady descends from the hermitage to the Church of S. Francisco, and during the following 2 weeks different religious events take place, the main one being a procession that takes the image to its starting point (known as “Festa Grande”, the biggest religious festival south of Fátima). Another way to celebrate Easter in the Algarve is to be in touch with nature. Get inspired by the fountains that surround the village of Alte, such as Fonte Grande and Fonte Pequena, and have a picnic in the open air. The final touch of a family Easter holiday: hide some chocolate eggs and let the little ones go on an adventure!
Quinta do Lago:
Easter Dance Camp – From March 25th, The Campus in Quinta do Lago will be running dance camp for children to get into the dancing spirit!
Easter Junior Golf Camps – The Junior Camps programme is back for Easter 2024 at Quinta do Lago (from March 26th) giving young golfers of all levels a great opportunity to improve their skills.
Soccer Camp – The Campus will also be running Soccer camp from March 25th for aspiring football stars!
The Big Egg Hunt – On Sunday, March 31st, at 10:00, the Driving Range next to KOKO in Quinta do Lago is transforming into a magical land of balloon making, face painting, and fun games!
Olhão:
For those who would like to celebrate Portuguese Easter beyond the religious festivities, Olhão is the destination to indicate! Home of the famous Folar de Olhão, a traditional Algarve cake with cinnamon, sugar and butter, this is the town where you can enjoy a family weekend with a view of the Ria Formosa.
Lagos:
During Holy Week, Lagos also organises the Folar and Handicraft Fair, where regional sweets, loaves of bread, honey and local liqueurs can be sampled, always with accompanying music. If you are holidaying in the Algarve during this season, venture to the coastal area with a kayak trip, a catamaran cruise, a diving visit to the sea caves, a dolphin-watching boat trip or even a gastronomic tour that ends at sunset.
The weather
The Algarve is super green around Easter time. The weather is quite mild but usually warm enough to wear a t-shirt and shorts, chill by the pool and doing (outdoor) activities like hiking, exploring beaches and surfing.
Actually, in the past years had many days in March with 25+ degrees. However, when planning for your Easter trip definitely also bring a jumper and maybe a light jacket as the weather is more changeable and can get more chilly in the evenings.
What to eat
The gastronomic arts are central to Portuguese culture. Being Portuguese is all about enjoying good food, whatever the occasion, and Easter is no different.
Meat takes centre stage on the Easter dining table with specialities such as lamb, goat or suckling pig. And let’s not forget that desserts are a must in Portugal, including the delicious Folar.
Discover the dishes you can add to your Easter table and celebrate with a full belly!!
ROAST KID
Roast kid is a quintessential culinary tradition all over Portugal. After marinating for several days in wine and garlic, on Easter Day it is slowly roasted in the oven. For the most fervent followers of culinary tradition, the choice often falls to the wood-fired oven, which preserves the authenticity of the ancient methods and gives the dish a more intense and characteristic flavour.
LAMB
Just like kid, lamb also takes pride of place at the Easter table. Whether it is stewed or roasted. Inspired by their cultural and religious heritage, the Portuguese preserve the tradition of enjoying this dish during the Easter season.
Share the unique flavour of this dish with your friends and family, and make the celebration even more special!!
SUCKLING PIG
Eastertime is when you are most likely to hear about suckling pig, an essential delicacy on many a Portuguese dining table. The suckling pig symbolizes the end of abstinence from red meat during Lent, which runs from Ash Wednesday until Easter. This is a popular and tasty dish that cannot be missing at this celebration.
CHANFANA
Chanfana is an excellent alternative for Easter lunch. The meat is roasted in clay pots, using the heat of the wood oven, and is basted in red wine, garlic and bay leaves. If you enjoy goat, this is a truly divine choice that promises to conquer your taste buds.
FOLARES
Whether sweet or savoury, folares are a feature of this season and can be found in supermarkets and bakeries, or of course. .. in many Portuguese kitchens, where tradition is kept alive!
Although they share the same name, folares take on different forms depending on the region of the country. In Beiras, for example, they incorporate fennel and cinnamon, and are garnished with boiled or coloured eggs, while in the Algarve the recipe and even the name change to leaf folares, where they have a sweeter flavour and a special decoration. In Trás-os-Montes, the folar is generously stuffed with veal, rabbit, ham and chicken.
One interesting folar tradition is that it is used as a gift to be exchanged between godparents and godchildren. It is said that godfathers and godmothers should offer it on Easter Sunday to their godchildren. Surprise your loved ones with this delicious dessert and celebrate tradition!
(Note, due to religious observation in the country, some shops and restaurants might be closed on Easter Sunday – be sure to check ahead of time to get your plan in place!)
As Easter approaches in 2024, consider Algarve as your destination for a celebration that seamlessly blends tradition, spirituality, and culinary delights. Whether you’re a culture enthusiast, a food lover, or a traveler seeking new experiences, Portugal’s Easter celebrations promise an immersive and joyous journey.
Start planning your trip today, and get ready to embrace the warmth and charm of a Portuguese Easter celebration like no other.
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