Vila do Conde City Hall is preparing to start the Christmas season celebrations, with a program full of activities, lights, music and lots of entertainment that runs from November 30th to January 6th.

With events for all ages and with the collaboration of Parish Councils and Parish Unions, local associations, parishes and other institutions, Christmas in Vila do Conde will provide moments of joy and special memories for all Vila do Conde residents.

Complete program:

November 30th

Opening of the Christmas Program | 6:00 p.m.

Customs Pier

  • Artistic drone show “Christmas in the Stars” | Arrival of Santa Claus
  • Connecting decorative Christmas lights
  • Big Christmas Parade | Largo da Alfândega » Rua Cais da Doca » Rua do Bombeiro » Avenida Júlio Graça » Jardim Júlio Graça
  • Opening of the Christmas Market | 7:00 pm

Júlio Graça Garden

 

November 30th to January 5th

Christmas Market in Jardim Júlio Graça

  • Mon to Thu: 2pm to 7pm
  • Fri and Saturday: 11am to 10pm
  • Sun: 11am to 8pm
  • Dec 24 and 31: 11am to 4pm
  • 25 Dec and 1 Jan: 3pm to 8pm

Santa’s House | Gingerbread cookie factory | Mini Wheel | Parisian carousel | Christmas train

 

1 on December 31

Christmas market next to the Church of Nosso Senhor dos Navegantes

  • Mon to Fri: 3pm to 7pm
  • Sat and Sun: 11am to 8pm
  • Dec 24 and 31: 11am to 4pm
  • Dec 25 – Closed

Carousel | Rail Train

 

Christmas Tree: Alameda dos Descobrimentos

Instagrammable spots: Cais da Alfândega | São João Square | Monument to the Fisherman

 

November 30th to December 23rd

24th Exhibition / Sale of Nativity Scenes from Portugal

Association for the Defense of Crafts and Heritage of Vila do Conde

Municipal Auditorium

 

December and January

Christmas Concerts by the Council

Vila do Conde Conservatory of Music, Theater and Dance

  • December 1st: 4pm – Labruge: Chapel of São Paio (Castro de São Paio) | 7pm – Touguinhó: Main Church of the Divine Savior of Touguinhó
  • December 6: 9:30 pm – Fornelo: Church of S. Martinho de Fornelo
  • December 7th: 7pm – Fajozes: Fajozes Church | 9:30 pm – Macieira da Maia: Church of Macieira da Maia
  • December 8: 4pm – Gião: Igreja Matriz de Gião | 7pm – Aveleda: Church of Aveleda
  • December 13: 9:30 pm – Outeiro Maior: Church of Outeiro Maior
  • December 15th: 4pm – Tree: Nossa Senhora de Fátima Church (Areia) | 7pm – Vila Chã: Vila Chã Mother Church
  • December 20: 9:30 pm – Azurara: Azurara Parish Church
  • December 21: 7pm – Modivas: Modivas Main Church | 9:30 pm – Mosteiró: Church of S. Gonçalo de Mosteiró
  • December 27: 9:30 pm – Malta: Igreja Matriz de Sta. Christina of Malta
  • December 28: 7pm – Mindelo: S. Pedro Church | 9:30 pm – Junqueira: Main Church of S. Simão da Junqueira
  • December 29: 4pm – Rio Mau: Romanesque Church of Rio Mau | 7pm – Vilar do Pinheiro: Church of Vilar do Pinheiro
  • January 3: 9:30 pm – Guilhabreu: Main Church of Guilhabreu
  • January 4th: 9pm – Tougues: Parish Church of Tougues
  • January 5th: 4pm – Vila do Conde: Igreja Matriz de Nosso Senhor dos Navegantes (Caxinas)

 

Street entertainment on weekends

Christmas train and promotion of local commerce

with Commercial and Industrial Association of Vila do Conde

 

December 1st | 9:30 p.m.

Orfeão Christmas Concert by Circulo Católico de Operários (CCO)

Conducted by: Maestro Samuel Santos

Main Church of Vila do Conde

 

1 to 31 December

Exhibition “Evoking Christmas by José Régio”

José Régio Documentation Center

 

2 on December 23

Construction of a Collective Tree

José Régio Municipal Library

 

December 3rd to January 4th

Christmas Book Fair

  • Tue to Sat: 10am – 12:30pm and 2:30pm – 7pm

Casa Antero de Quental

 

December 8 | 4:00 p.m.

Concert Per il Santíssimo Natale

Baroque Camerata

Main Church of Vila do Conde

 

December 4th to January 6th

Exhibition of recycled Christmas trees

(Schools and Kindergartens, IPSS’s and Institutions in the Parish of Vila do Conde)

John Paul II Park

 

7 December

“Handmade” craft market – Christmas Edition

St. John’s Square | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

 

7 December | 9:30 p.m.

“What Night Is It?” – 3rd Ga Edition
Christmas la

Felipe Fonseca and Guests

Concert

Municipal Auditorium

 

December 7th to 27th | 3:00 p.m.

Christmas workshops at the Memory Center

  • Dec 7 – “Little bakers: cookies for Santa Claus” with Happy Alex: Always be happy
  • Dec 18 – “Come decorate your Christmas boots”
  • Dec 19 – “Little confectioners: discovering Christmas sweets”
  • Dec 20 – “Do you want to beautify your Christmas tree?”
  • Dec 26 – “The spices of maritime trade: cream with cinnamon, shall we make it?”
  • Dec 27 – “Julio’s ceramics”

Aimed at children aged 6 to 12

*Subject to prior registration: centro.memoria@cm-viladoconde.pt

 

December 15 | 5:30 p.m.

“Adventure at Santa’s Factory”

Children’s Musical

Municipal Theater

 

17 December

Antiques, Collections and Antiques Fair – Christmas Edition

Vila do Conde Municipal Market

 

December 17th to 19th | 10:00 – 12:30

Cyanotype Workshop

Casa Antero de Quental

 

December 17th to 19th | 11:00 – 12:00 and 15:00 – 16:00

Meetings with Santa Claus

Municipal Theater

 

December 18th to 20th | 10:00 – 12:00

Christmas Workshop at the Activity Center – João Paulo II Park*

Aimed at children aged 6 and over.

*Subject to prior registration: centroactivities@cm-viladoconde.pt

 

December 18th to 29th | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Holidays at the Museum – Christmas*

  • “Vila do Conde – Time and Territory” | Exhibition at the Central Center of the Vila do Conde Museum – Memory Center
  • Dec 18 to 22 and 27 – “Commerce, Navigation and 16th Century Naval Construction” | Exhibition at the Royal Customs-Naval Construction Museum
  • Dec 28 and 29 – “Vasco da Gama visits the Museum” | Performance Alfândega Régia-Naval Construction Museum

Aimed at children aged 6 to 12.

*By appointment: museus@cm-viladoconde.pt

 

December 18th to 20th | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Christmas activities at the José Régio Municipal Library*

  • 18 Dec – Origin, history and symbols of Christmas: Christmas decoration in the library: candles, motifs and Christmas arrangements | Plastic Expression
  • Dec 19 – Letter to Santa Claus: Making a postcard | Creative Writing
  • 20 Dec – Origin and history of “Rabanada”: Making French toast in the oven | Cooking

*Subject to prior registration: biblioteca@cm-viladoconde.pt

 

December 20 | 10:00 p.m.

Arrival of the Light of Peace from Bethlehem

Júlio Graça Garden (bandstand) and Main Church

Group 439 Vila do Conde, Núcleo Cego de Maio and Parish of São João Baptista in Vila do Conde

 

December 20th and 21st | 9:30pm – 10:30am and 3pm

Special Christmas Cinema “Vaiana 2” + Meeting with Santa Claus

Municipal Theater

 

December 21 | 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm

Workshop “Sustainable Wrapping” – Associação Re.Une*

Vila Jovem Space – Municipal Youth Center

*Subject to prior registration at: [link available soon]

 

December 21 | 5:00 p.m.

São Silvestre Vila do Conde Race

Start: Avenida Júlio Graça

 

December 21 | 6:00 p.m.

Christmas Parade with Tractors

  • Route: Rio Ave FC Stadium > Sport Roundabout > Memorial to the Founders Roundabout > McDonald’s Roundabout > Ave. Dr. Antonio Bento Martins Junior > Ave. Infante Dom Henrique > Ave. from Brazil > R. Frei João Vila do Conde > Ave. Baltazar do Couto > Ave. Júlio Graça > Firefighter’s R. > R. do Cais das Lavandeiras > Republic Square > N13 > Ave. Atlantic > Rio Ave FC Stadium > R. D.ª M.ª Pais Ribeiro > R. da Lapa / EM525 > R. Our Mrs. do Ó > R. do Rio Leste > R. Luís de Camões > R. Commander Joaquim Costa e Silva (Bagunte) > Agricultural Cooperative VC – CRL – Armazém de Bagunte.

Tainadas World Young Farmers Association

 

31 December | 22:30 – 03:00

New Year’s Eve Party (Air-conditioned tent, DJ)

Fireworks

Republic Square

 

January 4th | 5:00 p.m.

New Year’s Concert

Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra

Municipal Theater

 

January 11 | 2:30 p.m.

Songs of Janeiras

Municipal Theater

 

January 18 | 2:30 p.m.

New Year’s Choral Concert – Vila do Conde Choir

Santa Clara Church