Are you spending 2017 New Year’s Eve in Porto? Brace yourself for the cold and prepare to celebrate 2018 downtown.
READ ALSO: Christmas Markets And New Year Events To Hit Up In December 2018
Keeping up with past years traditions and events, Porto’s City Hall is organizing an eventful New Year’s Eve. If you want to start your 2018 surrounded by lights and Portuguese music, this is your chance.
The venue is one of the best ones: Aliados avenue, the heart of the city, stage to all celebrations. To spend the last hours of 2017, the guests at the annual live free concert are the singer Aurea and the band Amor Electro: both Portuguese, both performing some pop rock tunes. Aurea sings in english as well. Before they go on stage on the 31st, you also have the chance to see the band HMB on Saturday, the 30th, at the same venue.
New Year’s Eve events
Photo by: Raphael Alvim
It’s not the end of the year without some fireworks, and that’s exactly what awaits you if you spend it in Aliados. The night of the 31st will begin with Aurea’s concert at 10:30pm, and if you plan on dining downtown, make sure to book a table in advance.
At midnight, sharp, to welcome 2018, there will be a fireworks session. This is a traditional event for this night, taking about 20 minutes. The first musical event to ring in the new year the portuguese pop band Amor Electro, with a start time of at around 12:20am.
Photo by: oportoblog
The night does not end here, as during the night you’ll be able to dance to DJ sets spread across town. Besides the main party spot of Aliados (where you’ll be able to dance to the well known portuguese DJ Nuno Luz), there will be two more stages: one at Cordoaria, right in front of Centro Português de Fotografia and a second one at Poveiros square. Different DJs from different styles will perform: at Cordoaria rap and hip hop will be kings, while at Poveiros there will be more of an electronic vibe. Both sets and performances go on until 4am.
Parties in the city
There are a few private parties happening all over the city, in hotels and restaurants. However one of the most highlighted private events is the one happening in the Monastery of São Bento da Vitória.
Nowadays, this historical building, a national monument, is house to several theatre shows, concerts and exhibitions under Teatro Nacional de São João’s programming, in its eastern wing.
It’s located in the old jewish quarter of Porto, being a part of Cordoaria, alongside the former building of the prison known as Cadeia da Relação, nowadays the Centro Português de Fotografia.
You can find more information on “Porto Reveillon” Facebook page.
The day after
In other events promoted by the City hall, and a big part of the New Year’s traditions in the city, you can also attend the New Year Concert, at Aliados, at 4pm. The music will be by the Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa, accompanied by a local children choir.
Keep in mind that on the 1st of January many spaces are closed, including supermarkets, malls, many restaurants, cafés and bars. Do a quick search online before venturing. Cunha (Sá da Bandeira, 676), Capa Negra (Campo Alegre, 191) and BaixaBurguer (Picaria Street, 89) are usually open and are good suggestions for you to cure your hangover.
