Events and Festivals
Keep up with the events and celebrations in Santa Clara-a-Nova and the Almodôvar municipality. Traditional feasts, fairs and moments of community life.
This Year in the Village
Events with an official 2026 poster
Traditional Festival 2026
Six days of tradition, faith and community, culminating on the patron saint's day, 12 August. Festival grounds open with food and drink on every programme night.
"Come celebrate tradition, faith and our community!"
Friday, 7 August
- 7 pmFestival grounds open, food and drink
- 8 pmFreestyle show with Humberto Ribeiro and his son David Ribeiro
- 10 pmDance with João Paulo Cavaco
Saturday, 8 August
- 5 pmSack race and children's road-safety gymkhana, by the Tokarolar
- 6 pmTraditional cavalhadas (horse games) with guest riders
- 7:30 pmFestival grounds open, food and drink
- 10 pmDance with Nelson Santos
Sunday, 9 August
- 2 pmSueca card tournament (separate poster)
- 5:30 pmCorrida às panelas (traditional pot race)
- 7 pmFestival grounds open, food and drink
- 7:15 pmFace painting
- 7:30 pmChoral group "Flores do Campo"
- 10 pmDance with Tomás Faísca
Wednesday, 12 August — patron saint's day
- 12 pmSolemn Mass
- 6:30 pmProcession in honour of the patron saint
- 7 pmFestival grounds open, food and drink
- 7:30 pmAlmodôvar Senior University group "Cantigas e Tradições"
- 9:30 pmDance with Filipe Romão
The official poster lists no programme for 10 and 11 August.
Mercadinho Moinhos de Vento (local market)
A small market of local products, part of the anniversary celebrations of the Malta Dura Association. Olive oil, honey, sweets, preserves and other produce of the land. Producer registration was handled by the parish council.
"Support what is ours. Buy local, value our land!"
Took place on 23 May 2026. For future editions, contact the parish council: +351 286 474 393.
Annual Calendar
Santa Clara-a-Nova Annual Fair
The biggest event of the year in the village. Residents, emigrants and visitors come together to celebrate local identity and Alentejo traditions.
- •Solemn Mass
- •Traditional procession
- •Arraial (street party) with music and dancing
- •Local gastronomy
- •Stalls with regional products
- •Community gathering
Feast of Santo Amaro
A deeply traditional fair in the Almodôvar municipality, with strong participation from the rural community. One of the most deeply rooted celebrations in the region.
- •Traditional fair
- •Regional products
- •Local gastronomy
- •Community gathering
Feast of Santa Clara
Religious celebration of the village patron saint, Saint Clare of Assisi (Santa Clara de Assis). A procession through the streets, a popular feast and, in some years, fireworks.
- •Religious celebration
- •Procession through the village
- •Popular feast
- •Fireworks
Easter Celebrations
Religious Easter celebrations with gastronomic traditions such as folar (Easter bread) and family gatherings.
- •Easter Mass
- •Gastronomic traditions (folar, almonds)
- •Family gatherings
April Fair
Traditional spring fair, held around 20 April. Exact date to be confirmed with the parish council.
São João
Traditional popular celebration in the Almodôvar municipality, with bonfires and conviviality.
- •Traditional bonfires
- •Popular feast
- •Gastronomy
- •Community gathering
Medronho Season
The traditional season for harvesting the medronho fruit and distilling the aguardente in copper stills. Medronho is promoted as the traditional drink of the Almodôvar municipality.
- •Medronho harvest
- •Artisanal distilling
- •Tasting
Christmas and Epiphany
Christmas traditions with Midnight Mass, the traditional Christmas Eve supper and the singing of the Reis (Epiphany carols) on 6 January.
- •Midnight Mass (Missa do Galo)
- •Traditional Christmas Eve supper
- •Singing of the Reis (6 January)
Almodôvar Annual Fair
The great annual fair of the Almodôvar municipality, with regional products, traditional crafts, a livestock show and cultural entertainment.
- •Regional products exhibition
- •Traditional crafts
- •Livestock show
- •Cultural entertainment
- •Gastronomy
Why 12 August?
The village feast celebrates its patron saint, Saint Clare of Assisi. In the current liturgical calendar her feast day is 11 August, but before the 1970 reform it was celebrated on the 12th, and the village feast preserves that older date.
Read the story of the patron saintIn the region: the Castro Mineiro festival
Since 2022, Castro Verde has celebrated the mining culture and identity of the region with the Castro Mineiro festival, which includes photo exhibitions on the daily life of the mining communities, guided visits to the mine, music and gastronomy.
The story of the Neves-Corvo minersFestive Food
The dishes that go with the celebrations
| Ensopado de borrego (lamb stew) | Summer feasts |
| Migas (crumbled bread with pork) | All year round |
| Açorda (bread and garlic soup) | Popular tradition |
| Folar (Easter bread) | Easter |
| Filhoses (fried dough sweets) | Christmas |
Joining the Festivities
- •Check dates with the Junta de Freguesia (parish council)
- •Book accommodation in advance
- •Take part with respect for the traditions
- •Taste the local food