From June 1st to 24th, Vila do Conde is celebrating the biggest festival in the municipality: São João. Combining tradition and fun, the City Council and the Festival Committee have prepared a programme that will bring a lot of joy and colour to the streets of the city.

The highlight is undoubtedly the Great Night of São João, with the luminous marches of Ranchos do Monte and Praça, followed by performances by both ranches and culminating in a grand fireworks session. On June 24th, Saint John’s Day, the celebration is held with the Solemn Eucharist, followed by the Procession in honour of the Patron Saint and at night with the traditional walk to the beach and the trapped fire session.

The São João Festivals are highlighted by a lineup of great concerts in Cais da Alfândega, at the Municipal Theater and next to the Church of Nosso Senhor dos Navegantes, privileged spaces to receive Mariza (day 1), Expensive Soul (day 8), Carlão (day 14), Rui Veloso (day 15), Portuguese Symphonic Band (day 16), Bárbara Bandeira (day 22) and Emanuel (St. John’s Eve).

The programme also includes the active participation of the parishes in the Exhibition of Masts of São João, starting on June 2, in Praça da República, and in the Parade of Mordomas and Ethnographic, also on the 2nd, in Praça Vasco da Gama. The Cascades, designed and built by the residents of Vilacondenses, will also add another sparkle, along with the festive lighting of the main arteries of the city.

These festivities will be highlighted in the “Aqui Portugal” programme on RTP 1 that will be broadcast from Vila do Conde, on June 16.