Famalicão will once again uphold one of the municipality's oldest and most authentic traditions. The Feira Grande de S. Miguel, whose origins date back to 1205, will take place from 26 to 29 September in the city centre.
Despite its longevity, the Feira Grande de S. Miguel has a modern look, without neglecting the traditions of yesteryear, in a celebration of agricultural activity, customs and traditions, and the identity of Famalicão.
The event kicks off on Friday, 26 September, with the opening of the São Miguel Market in Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque, which also hosts the Praça dos Serviços (Services Square) - dedicated to local producers and companies - and the Praça da Alimentação (Food Square) - with mouth-watering delicacies. These spaces will be open from 10 a.m. to midnight, Friday to Sunday.
New features this year include the Exhibition of Antique Farming Tools and the Children's Tractor Track, which will run simultaneously with the market and the squares. Also worth noting is the Antiques Fair scheduled for Sunday, starting at 10:00 a.m., in the Municipal Market Square.
The Exhibition of Tractors and Agricultural Machinery is back and will be held at the Fairgrounds from 26 to 28 September.
The programme for the Feira Grande de S. Miguel also includes numerous recreational and cultural events, especially in Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque.
On Friday afternoon, at the weekly fairground, there will be a Cattle Parade (2:30 p.m.), the Blessing of the Animals (3:00 p.m.) and the Animal Exhibition (5:30 p.m.). In the evening, there will be the Famalicense Equestrian Show (9:00 p.m.), followed by the Mounted Horse Gathering (10:00 p.m.).
On Saturday, 27 September, there will be no shortage of popular music and folklore, with performances by the Zés Pereiras groups ‘Os Delaenses’ (10 a.m.) and ‘Os Divertidos’ (7 p.m.), and, in between, there will be the Folklore Afternoon (3:00 p.m.), which will feature the participation of the Famalicense groups: Rancho Folclórico de São Martinho de Brufe, Grupo Etnográfico Santiago da Cruz and Rancho Etnográfico de Ribeirão.
The cultural programme for this day ends with a fado concert by ACAFADO (9:00 p.m.) and, shortly afterwards, the famous Miguel da Fonseca Equestrian Gala (10:00 p.m.), an event dedicated to Portuguese culture and traditions, with the Lusitano horse as its central element.
On Sunday, the 28th, there will be the Roda das Concertinas (3:00 p.m.), the Charretes Parade (4:00 p.m.) and the Desfolhada (6:00 p.m.).
The 2025 edition of the Feira Grande de S. Miguel ends with the traditional Feira Franca, which takes place on Monday, 29 September, between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., at the weekly fairgrounds.
Also note, during the weekend, the educational workshops dedicated to bread (10 a.m.), fabric (11 a.m.) and decoration (2 p.m.), on the 26th, and workshops organised by AESAcademy (11:00 a.m.) and the Castro Alves Foundation (3:00 p.m.) on the 28th, all at Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque.
It should be noted that the Feira Grande de S. Miguel is one of the oldest traditions in the municipality and is organised by the City Council. Established in 1205, when King Sancho I granted the charter of Vila Nova, it is an initiative that is closely linked to the origins of the municipality and the predominant activity at the time: agriculture.
