DECEMBER

Date

Event

Porto – Festival Internacional de Marionetas (International Puppet Festival)

Lisboa – Christmas Show – at the Belém Cultural Centre. www.ccb.pt

Lisboa - Christmas Shopping in Baixa & Chiado - For those hunting for the ideal gift, pay a visit to the pedestrian areas of Baixa and Chiado, as well as the elegant Avenida da Liberdade, where the Christmas lights and decorations give a warming glow and where every block is packed with shops.

Marinha Grande (Lisboa region) – Feira de Artesanato e Gastronomia (Handicraft & Gastronomy Fair)

Nazaré (Lisboa region) – Festas da Passagem do Ano (New Year Celebrations)

Faro (Algarve region) - Festival Internacional de Jazz(International Jazz Festival)

Loulé (Algarve region) – Feira da Serra – local fair

Vilamoura (Algarve region) – Grande Troféu de Vilamoura de Golfe(Golf Trophy of Vilamoura)

Funchal (Madeira)– Festas de Fim de Ano (New Year Celebrations) - Dec. 1 – The beginning of the Christmas lights – The amphitheater of Funchal will be transformed into a majestic nativity scene illuminated by 250,000 colored lights offering visitors a sight of exceptional beauty.Dec. 16 – Christmas exhibitionsDec. 31 – The Fireworks Show – To mark the changing of the year, the skies over Funchal will light up with fireworks shooting up from about 50 posts, all in a time span of approximately 10 minutes.

Nov. - Dec.

Porto – Feira de Artesanato do Porto (Handicrafts Fair of Oporto) - Location: Mercado Ferreira Borges

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Lamego (North of Portugal) - Feira de Santo Estêvão (Fair of St. Steven) - This annual fair takes place on the grounds of the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, where there once stood the Chapel of St. Steven. Later the chapel became the site of the grand Marian sanctuary.

Dec. 31 – January 1

Lisboa– Festas da Passagem do Ano (New Year Celebrations) - This super-event marks the transition from the old year to the new year. Staged usually near the River Tagus on the waterfront of the Parque das Nações and Belém, there will be concerts with famous artists, as well as, street entertainment and, of course, fireworks!