After many years of parading on the “Calçadão,” the fair moves to Passeio das Dunas, the stretch of pedestrian area between Quarteira and Vilamoura inaugurated in 2016 which increasingly plays host to more events.

This change of scenery originates from a common desire from the organisers, the parish and the council to offer better conditions for the parade’s participants to show their artistic quality, and for the visitors to comfortably fit in the venue, as the number of spectators grows year on year.

Seven parades will be held at this new “saint-o-drome” over the three nights – The Florinhas de Quarteira, the Rua da Cabine, the Rua Gago Coutinho, the Rua Poeta Pardal, the Fundação António Aleixo, the Rua Vasco da Gama, and the Rua do Outeiro.

Just as in other Portuguese fishing communities, the nights of St. Anthony, St. John and St. Peter will fill the streets of Quarteira with colour, music, dance and joy over the month of June. The high point of the celebrations is the parade that represents the city streets, involving hundreds of rigorously costumed marchers with unique dances inspired by the sea, fishing, the Popular Saints’ traditions and the festivity’s related symbolism – arches, basil, bonfires, balloons, leeks and artichokes.

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Besides the parade, the gastronomy – roasted sardines, porkchops, chorizo bread, caldo verde and red wine – and the fairs will constitute more than enough reasons for thousands of people to visit Quarteira during this period. However, the tradition also features jumping over fires and burning artichokes.

The fairs are another of the attractions for celebrating the life of these three saints. Three are the streets in which the popular fairs will take place, with music and dancing from popular artists: Rua Vasco da Gama, which hosts the duo of Rui and Miguel on June 9th, Valter Cabrita on the 10th, Paulo Coelho on the 16th and Helder Pires on the 17th; Rua da Cabine, which hosts Valter Cabrita on the 23rd and Rui and Miguel on the 24th; and the Rua da Alegria, which hosts Migue G on the 12th and Luís José on the 28th. These fairs take place between 7pm and midnight.

Another tradition being featured is the sale of basil, on the Largo do Centro Autárquico, on the 13th, 23rd and 28th of June from 9:30am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5:30pm. Indistinguishable from the Saints’ period, basil is known as the “lovers’ grass” because, according to old tradition, boys would give small basils in pots to their girlfriends around time of St. Anthony, the wedding saint’s, Day. These plants have become more and more appreciated by tourists in Quarteira, perhaps captivated by the trademark aroma.

Quarteira once again dresses itself up for one of the most emblematic events of Algarvian entertainment of the Summer months and which constitutes an excellent touristic offering in the region, but which also “demonstrates the fervorous rivalry between neighbourhoods that is deep-rooted on the spirit and soul of all Quarteirenses,” according to the press release by the council about the event.

The organising body is APROMAR, Promoting Association of the Popular Marches, which counts on the support of the Loulé council and Quarteira parish. Entry is free.

Before the parades were as we now know them, the Popular Saints’ celebrations integrated themselves into fairs, bonfires, dance balls and bathing on the night of St. John that normally took place in Quarteira due to its proximity to the sea. Until the 1970s, the celebrations was tied to the St. John commemorations with the “masters’ balls” through the city and the “sacred bath” at midnight. The Popular Marches were created by Father Elísio Dias, named pastor of Quarteira in 1968, and saw growth starting from the 90s. In 1995 APROMAR was founded, which since then has been the official organiser of the event.

Author

Star in the 2015 music video for the hit single “Headlights” by German musician, DJ and record producer Robin Schulz featuring American singer-songwriter Ilsey. Also a journalist.

Jay Bodsworth