Welcome

This December, Christmas is coming to Alentejo, in a perfect setting to also host the Alentejo and Ribatejo Literary Tourism Festival, promoted by the Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Authority, with inspiring literary itineraries that allow visitors to discover places where great writers live, have lived or were inspired. 

Christmas in Alentejo will provide children and their families with unique moments of magic, light and colour. The Christmas markets showcase local businesses, products and traditions from the different municipalities. Elvas will become the Christmas City and, in Beja, there will be street entertainment and a Christmas parade. Estremoz will be resuming the “Bota Solidária” initiative at the Berardo Museum. Arraiolos will also have its own Christmas market; in Crato, there will be a Magical Christmas filling the municipal garden with colour and, in Alter do Chão, where Christmas is taking place, there will be an ecological ice rink and a Christmas train. The season is also closely associated with the Christmas concerts that will be organised by the Évora and Sousel City Councils.

Also noteworthy this month is the New Olive Oil Festival, in Évora, and Vitifrades, the great Talha Wine festival in Vidigueira.

December 1st - Sunday

It's Christmas in Beja - Until 6/01 - Beja.

Street entertainment, a street market and a Christmas parade are part of this initiative that aims to develop the historic center of Beja, promoting local commerce, its products, and the arts and crafts of the region. The local institutions also join the event to raise funds for solidarity campaigns that aim to support those most in need. Information here.

Elvas Hometown - Until 5/1 - Elvas.

Organized by Elvas City Council, the event includes several activities, combining tradition and fun. At the Christmas Fair, you will find several stands selling and displaying regional products. You can also visit Santa Claus Village, the Toy Factory and many other attractions. More information here.

"Solidarity Boot" Project - Until 12/17 - Berardo Museum - Estremoz.

The "Bota Solidária" project is back at the Berardo Museum, to continue making children happy. You can visit the Berardo Estremoz Museum for free if you bring a gift with you, decorate a boot to decorate the Museum's Christmas Tree and make a child happy. Information here.

Black Pig Theme Park – Until 12/31 – Vila Nova de Santo André – Santiago do Cacém.

At the Christmas Village, children can experience magical moments with Santa Claus, take photos and share smiles and stories with him. Shows, lights and incredible performances await the whole family at the largest Christmas Village in the Alentejo!

Information here.

Christmas in Reguengos 2024 – Until 22/12 – Reguengos de Monsaraz

The program includes shows, initiatives and activities such as the Christmas Train, the Christmas Market, Photos with Santa Claus and Horse-drawn Carriage Rides. Don't forget to visit the Nativity Scene in Monsaraz Street, until January 6th.

Information here.

December 5th - Thursday

BP Ultimate 24 Hours TT Vila de Fronteira - Until 8/12 - Fronteira.

This is the great off-road endurance marathon. The 24-hour TT and 4-hour SSV will be held and the excitement promises to once again heat up the Fronteira racetrack and bring together hundreds of machines and drivers from various parts of Europe. Information here.

December 6th - Friday

Altitude Wines - Serra de S. Mamede - Until 7/12 - Church of São Francisco/ Portalegre.

Organized by Portalegre City Council and with the support of the Alentejo Regional Tourism Board, for the third consecutive year, the event celebrates the terroir and winemaking tradition of the region and brings together visitors and experts to discover the acclaimed Portalegre High Altitude Wines. Information here.

Alcáçovas Confectionery Exhibition - Until 8/12 - Alcáçovas/Viana do Alentejo.

Organized by the Viana do Alentejo City Council, the event will be full of convent and palace sweets. The Bolo Conde Alcáçovas and Bolo Real, two sweets that are the kings of the event, will be an essential presence. Information here.

Vitifrades - Until 8/12 - Village of Frades/Vidigueira.

Organized by the Vitifrades Association with the support of the Vidigueira City Council and the Alentejo Regional Tourism Board, Vitifrades is the great Festival of Talha Wine. The tradition of the festival began in 1998, when a group of Vilafranquenses decided to hold the festival to honor the tradition of making wine in clay amphorae, a method inherited from the Romans. Last year, the festival received the European title of Best Traditional Wine and Food Festival. More information here.

Vineyard and Wine Fair - Until 8/12 - Cancelinhas Pavilion - Amareleja/Moura

The Amareleja parish council is organising this event to promote the wines and regional products of the municipality, in a lively atmosphere, with musical performances and the usual Winery Route. Information here.

New Olive Oil Festival 2024 - Until 7/12 - Évora.

The festival, organized by CEPAAL - Center for Studies and Promotion of Alentejo Olive Oil, will take place at the D. Manuel Palace and the Municipal Market of Évora. The event's main objective is to promote and publicize Alentejo olive oils, in the 2024/2025 campaign, the consumption of quality olive oil and knowledge about the product. At the same time, it aims to raise awareness among the general public and restaurateurs about the importance of consuming olive oil, as a healthy fat and a pillar of the Mediterranean diet, as well as a characteristic element of the identity and culture of Portugal, and in particular of the Alentejo region, where olive oil is the king of gastronomy and synonymous with tradition. Information here.

December 7th - Saturday

Christmas Market - Until 12/15 - Arraiolos.

The Arraiolos City Council is organizing this 2024 Christmas Market on the weekends of December 7th and 8th and 14th and 15th. Information here.

December 13th - Friday

Liter AREA - Alentejo and Ribatejo Literary Tourism Festival - Until 12/15.

Promoted by the Regional Tourism Authority of Alentejo and Ribatejo, the festival kicks off on December 13th in Vila Viçosa, with a programme that takes in several locations in Alentejo and highlights the literary identity of Alentejo and Ribatejo with its traditions, landscapes and unique experiences. The festival’s programme involves literature, arts, technology, nature, wines and gastronomy. It promotes several and varied cultural initiatives and literary itineraries that connect visitors to places where great writers such as José Saramago, Urbano Tavares Rodrigues, Florbela Espanca, José Luís Peixoto, Ruy Belo, among others, live, have lived or have inspired. Information here.

Alter do Chão, where Christmas happens... - Until 14/12 - Alter do Chão.

Organized by the Alter do Chão City Council, the Christmas Market brings the magic of Christmas to Largo Barreto Caldeira and transforms the town into a space of light, brightness and magic for families and especially for the little ones. The ecological ice rink, the Parisian carousel and the Christmas train are just some of the attractions that promise to boost local commerce and delight the population and visitors. Information here.

December 14th - Saturday

Christmas Concert by the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra - Church of São Francisco - Évora.

Organized by the Évora City Council and the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Évora, this Christmas concert will feature the performance of Giacomo Puccini's Missa de Glória by the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lisbon Cantat Symphonic Choir, under the direction of Maestro Osvaldo Ferreira, with Tenor Sérgio Sousa Martins and Baritone João Merino. Information here.

December 16th - Monday

Magical Christmas - Until 12/29 - Crato.

The event, organised by the Crato City Council, will take place in the Municipal Garden and promises to be a lot of fun for all visitors, who will be able to enjoy the ice rink, venture into the enchanting Fairy Courtyard, ride the Christmas Train and have fun on the Carousel. Santa Claus will always be present and has many surprises in store for the children. More information here.

December 22 - Sunday

Christmas Concert by the Évora Choir - Church of Santo Antão/Évora

Organized by Coral Évora and the Parish of Santo Antão, the concert is part of the Christmas concert series to be held by Coral Évora, during the month of December, with Artistic Direction by Pedro Nascimento. Information here.

Christmas Concert with the Santo Amaro de Oeiras Choir - Sousel Parish Church. 

The Santo Amaro de Oeiras Choir is an amateur choir from the municipality of Oeiras, founded in 1960 by Maestro Cesar Batalha and, to this day, remains active and has a full schedule that today passes through Sousel. Information here.

December 31 - Tuesday

New Year's Eve in Mértola 2024/2025 - Expo Mértola Multipurpose Pavilion.

The Municipality of Mértola invites everyone to celebrate the arrival of 2025 with a special New Year's Eve party event that will feature live music and lots of entertainment, in a festive atmosphere designed for all ages. Information here.