Porto’s hottest month might be speeding towards its end, but that doesn’t mean the action is slowing down anytime soon! Don’t believe us? Then take a look at all the amazing festivals that are about to take place in the city for the upcoming months of September and October. We have marathons, circus performances, photography contests and even puppet shows… with so many different things happening in the city, you won’t be sure if you’re visiting Porto or watching the Royal Variety Performance!
HERE ARE 5 PORTO FESTIVALS YOU CAN’T MISS IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
COLEXPLA
Photo courtesy of: TNSJ
Leave it to Porto to host an international festival that revolves around experimental ways of making music! At Colexpla, an event that will be running from the 12th to the 15th of September, you may expect to find music and sounds crafted through the most ludicrous techniques and the most bizarre instruments. Case in point: Ken Butler! His…well, “instruments” certainly look wicked, but watch him doing his thing and you’ll realize his talent is as other-worldly as his design skills. Colexpla – branded as the very first International Festival of Sonic Explorers – will have the Teatro Carlos Alberto as its venue and tickets can be bought online for 10€.
OPORTO INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS FESTIVAL
Photo courtesy of: Coliseu
Yep, looks like Circus is in town and Porto is going full-on Monte Carlo for 4 days! Celebrating its very first edition, the Oporto International Circus Festival consists of 40 FREE shows put up by 12 different circus companies from all around the world. The performances will be taking place across 5 different locations within the city centre and everyone is invited to join-in on the party… unless you suffer from Coulrophobia of course! If that’s the case, you might want to avoid the city between the 13th and 16th of September.
Locations:
Coliseu do Porto ; Largo de Santo Ildefonso ; Jardim de São Lázaro ; Praça dos Poveiros ; Praça da Batalha
PORTO HALF MARATHON
Photo courtesy of: Meia Maratona do Porto
Though not a festival per se, the Porto Half Marathon (September 16) is nonetheless an event that attracts thousands, so it had to feature on our list! Plus, we here at Oporto Blog like to promote a healthy lifestyle, so pack your best running shoes, mingle with the locals and discover some less-known parts of the city during this 21km route! Just keep in mind that, in order to take part in the run, you’ll have to complete the online registration and pay the 17€ participation fee (20€ if you do it in September). However, if you got scared with the 21km mark, you might as well give it a go at the mini-marathon, as both the length (6km) and the fee (9€) are smaller. Just have some fun and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. As we Portuguese are reminded every 4 years at the Olympics: “it’s not the winning but the taking part that counts”.
OPORTO INTERNATIONAL PUPPET FESTIVAL (FIMP)
Photo courtesy of: Fimp
If you’re a nostalgic visitor who keeps fond childhood memories of staying in front of the TV while watching Miss Piggy harass Kermit the Frog, we have a feeling you’re gonna like this one! Taking place between the 10th and the 21st of October, the Oporto International Puppet Festival will see several performers and theater companies from all across the globe making the trip to Porto to show off their mastery in the art of puppet manipulation. The performances’ venues and locations will be scattered all over the city, but you can keep track of what is happening on the festival’s official program.
PORTO PHOTO FEST
Photo courtesy of: Porto Photo Fest
Finally, if you boast a strong passion for photography and happen to be visiting Porto between the 13th and the 21st of October, the city will be hosting its second ever official photo festival! After all, it’s not every day that you get to greet and meet some of the best photographers in the world and learn one or two tricks from them while photographing one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. If you’re interested in stepping up your photo game, there are several masterclasses and workshops open for registration, whether you like to immortalize beautiful views on camera, photograph local life or just piss your friends off by not letting them eat until you take a quick snap of their plate.
The ball is in your court now – which festival are you looking up to? Let us know on the comments section!
