A note for your diaries!
The annual Silves Medieval Fair (Algarve) is held in the narrow cobbled streets which lead up to the ancient castle. The streets and squares are transformed into a medieval market place as stall holders and even several of the visitors dress in medieval and arabic costumes. There is a tent where you can hire costumes plus if you really want to embrace the medieval “mood” you can also change your euros into the old currency to use at the stalls.
There are several food stalls where you can buy hog roast, barbecued chicken, crepes, sweets, cakes etc You can even buy mulled wine in rustic terracotta cups as you wander the streets or sit on straw bales while you eat, drink and enjoy the ambience.
If you do not fancy eating on the “hoof” there are plenty of cafes and restaurants in the area.
There are many events throughout the evening including jugglers, dancing, jousting and more!
The Fair opens at 18.00 and closes at 1.00.
If you have young children in pushchairs please note the fair becomes extremely busy later in the evening which may prove difficult to push the little one through the crowds and up or down the steep cobbled streets. We usually arrive to watch the opening processions and browse all the stalls before the crowds arrive!
I have written to the organisers to enquire about disabled parking and facilities and will update this post once I receive a reply.
Locals tip: Wear comfortable flattish shoes with a good grip. The cobbled streets are extremely slippery in places.
Useful links
Event organiser:
www.cm-silves.pt/portal_autarquico/silves/v_pt-PT
Portugal tourism website
www.visitportugal.com
VisitPortugal is the official web resource for travel and tourism in Portugal
Pictures of Silves Medieval Fair 2010
The atmosphere changes as darkness falls and the streets fill with throngs of people. It has a real party feel and a great buzz, but a little difficult if you are trying to maneuver a pushchair.
Video of opening Procession
If you have been to the fair or are planning your trip to the Algarve please don’t forget to leave a comment!
Alternatively, if you are not in Portugal I would love to hear about your favourite local event – you never know it may attract some extra visitors!
Piglet in Portugal 
How fun! If only I could afford the time and money to take a nice vacation, I think I would very much enjoy this. Loved all the pictures. It almost felt like I was there. Thanks, PiP. Jackie
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Very interesting; I like the mix of cultures and all the festivities around it… 🙂
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I want to come! It looks like a lot of fun! Oh, on a food note – I posted a picture of a Kangaroo meal!
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Hi TO,
Not sure about the Kangeroo meat, but the photo looks good!
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You have received a blog love award on my site, click the link to check it out!! xoxo
http://redneckprincess.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/spreading-the-love/?preview=true&preview_id=10173&preview_nonce=44a991ae8d
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Hi RNP,
thankyou for the award. I will add it to my blog shortly.
xoxo
PiP
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I wish, I wish, I wish….sigh
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It’s good to have wishes 🙂
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We have this type of fair here in the US. They’re usually called Renaissance Fairs, but it’s basically the same. Lots of great food & drink, dressing up, Shakespeare plays, jousting, lots of period type crafts. We’ve been to ones in Maryland and Texas. And yes, PiP, we did dress in costume!
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Hi Seashell,
I am impressed you dressed up! I would love to but it is so hot your eyeballs melt in their sockets. PErhaps I would dress up as a belly dancer 🙂
PiP
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This is why I dream of one day to be able to visit other countries ! This is so cool ! and filled with plenty of fun and action – great photos ! Thanks for sharing ! 🙂
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Hi Penny,
You must come to Europe it is steeped in history. We went to the medieval town of Annecy yesterday it was wonderful!
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Ooo that sounds like FUN! Great photos!
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Hi Soapbird,
My camera is always close to hand!
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This looks like a lot of fun. It would be so cool to live where there are castles.
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Hi Christine,
France and UK have arguably the best castles 🙂
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Hey PiP, you are tempting me more and more to come to Portugal, looks fab and very interesting – my kind of thing.
By the way (and off subject) I mentioned the frozen u know whats to my midwife sister and she said she’d never heard of that before, so I shall send her the link to your blog if you don’t mind.
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Oh that looks like fun!! Wish I could go 🙂 I wonder if you can buy a set of abs like that girl in the first picture has there, hehehehehehe….thanks for the info PIP!!
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Hi RNP
Hey trust you to notice the abs…she is a belly dancer. Do you fancy belly dancing?
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Oh cool, this sounds like a huge amount of fun. 🙂
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Ec it was great fun! Can’t wait togo this year.
Ps I have not forgotten about your praying mantis photos.
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Cool! I can hardly wait to hear of your adventures this year. 🙂
There’s no rush on the photo, just whenever you get time is fine. 😉
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Looks like an exciting time to visit the area… Interesting to see African masks for sale during the festival… Lots of fun. 🙂
E
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Hi E
They had a whole array of unusual things for sale. It could be a spending orgy
😉
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That looks fab! Ace pictures! If I could get there I’d go for a full suit of chain mail, shield, big old hog roast and gold coins! It looks very lively, hope everyone who goes has loads of fun!
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Hi Noob,
Mr Noob fancied the full suit of chainmail but I must warn you the temp is so hot it makes your eyeballs melt even in a t-shirt. Be careful what you wish for 🙂
PiP
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I think we might take the kids (or one, if they don’t both want to go, I suppose!) to this. My youngest will definitely dress up!
We didn’t go last year because we had visitors and not enough car space for us all but I’d love to go this time!
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Hi Tracy, the youngsters love it. They dress up in some really lovely arabic costumes with beaded hats and tops – like the belly dancers. Did not take any photos of these in case people got the wrong impression 😦 But they looked lovely!
There is so much to do and see – don’t forget to wear non slip shoes though as the steep calçada streets are like an icerink ..
Hope you have a great time
PiP
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Wish I could be to see it for myself; I love street events, particularly when they are steeped in history, and involve the whole community. This one looks good, lots of events going on, stalls selling their wares, etc.
We have a local Street Festival coming up at the end of this month so I will write a post on it. It’s to celebrate the life of P.L.Travers, the author of Mary Poppins who was born near where I live.
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Hi Barb,
I can only say the evening is magical 🙂 I look foward to seeing the photos of your street event 🙂
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Hi PiP! I’m not sure about Chile. I’ve been here such a short time that there’s a lot I haven’t discovered yet.
@Sharon–That Renaissance Fair in Texas is huge and fun. I used to live in Austin and I’ve visited it. GO!!! 🙂
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Hi Thorny Rose,
I am sure if Chile is anything like Portugal they love their festas and fairs. There will be plenty. I bet Margaret knows 🙂
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PiP,
That looks like a blast. I love Street Events, whether it’s a fair or musical event. I’ve never been to a Medieval Fair and we have them all the time in the States….really big ones that go on for weeks. There are so many events here in NYC that I can’t choose which is my favorite. On Tuesday I’m going to the Make Music New York Event. Thousands of musical performances will be happening in the streets of NYC that day. I’m going to see as many as I can. Have a great time at the fair!
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Hey BB I louk forward to reading your post about the “Make Music Event” 🙂
Don’t forget to tale ots of pics and even a video 🙂
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Very cool! Wish I could go to it but as I am in Texas, it would be a little too far!
We have a Renaissance Fair within a few hours, I believe, of where I live….about 3 months every year…between Sept. and Nov., I think. I have never been to it but always wanted to go!
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Hey Sharon, there is alwasys the lotto…perhaps your numbers will come up!
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Hi Thorny Rose,
I love this event so I thought I would make a post about it before rather than after.
We look round the stalls before all the crowds arrive then go to a little restaurant by the castle for a meal. We look down on one of the squares while we eat, and as darkenss falls it’s a really magical evening!
Do you have anything similar in Chile where people dress up?
PiP
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Sounds grand! How long have you lived in Portugal, PiP? Have you attended the festival more than once?
I’ve been to medieval faires in the states:
http://www.royalfaires.com/carolina/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=10
They’re usually held in fair grounds or at pseudo-castles ~ like Castle McCulloch in NC: http://www.castlemcculloch.com/index.asp
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Hi NR,
We have been to the fesitval several times now and really enjoy it 🙂 so thought it would be nice to give advance warning for those looking to visit Portugal. I think it is so nice because Silves is an ancient town.
🙂
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Looks fabulous! I wanna come visit!
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