Christmas in Porto returns to Aliados with concerts by Diogo Piçarra, Buba Espinho and Sofia Escobar

Avenida dos Aliados is once again the stage for this Christmas's great concerts in Porto. Recovering the pre-pandemic tradition, the lighting of the Christmas Tree, set up in General Humberto Delgado Square, is scheduled for December 1, at a time that will be celebrated with Diogo Piçarra's concert, starting at 6 pm. Beyond the stage in the Aliados, the animation moves to Cordoaria, with a Christmas Market for all tastes, itinerant animation, a Parisian carousel and the return of the ice rink to Largo do Amor de Perdição.

The stage set in Aliados will also receive a panoply of sounds and artists that promise to make this Christmas even more diverse and multicultural.

On December 9, at 6 pm, the musician from Alentejo Buba Espinho joins Bandidos do Cante for a concert that runs through the musician's last album. The concert takes place at a special moment, when nine years have passed since the Alentejo cante was considered an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

A week later, on the 16th, Aliados will host “A Filarmónica no Natal no Porto”, a meeting scheduled again for 6 pm, which will feature the classics of the time performed by Banda Marcial da Foz in collaboration with the alumni and current students of the University of Porto, under the direction of maestro Manuel da Costa.

On December 22, the municipal project Desporto no Bairro, which marked its fourth edition this year, promises an encounter with urban culture, in a show that features moments of breaking, street basket, surfing and skateboarding, in a performance with choreography by the athlete Max Oliveira. The presentation takes place at 9 pm.

Closing the great concerts in Aliados, on the 23rd, the most magical moment of this Christmas in the city takes place: singer Sofia Escobar, a Vimaranese who has crossed borders and is today one of the most requested national voices for musical performances at an international level, joins the Bonjóia Youth Orchestra in an unprecedented performance. The concert starts at 6 pm and promises the great themes of this season.

Ice Rink and Christmas Market at Cordoaria

In addition to Avenida dos Aliados, much of the programming for this festive season focuses on Jardim da Cordoaria, which becomes a true Enchanted Forest. It will host the usual Christmas Market, with various gift proposals.

The space will also host a set of itinerant proposals, which promise to infect with the magic of Christmas all those who join in the place. There are large figures, groups that promise to give more colour and rhythm to this era, workshops for the whole family and a diverse offer of theatre, dance, music, circus, and exhibitions, among many others.

One of the highlights is the return of the ice rink, which will be installed in Largo do Amor de Perdição. The use will be free, as will the Parisian carousel, which will stand next to the Christmas Market and promises to transport the public to memories of other times.

Christmas extends to the Mercado do Bolhão (Bolhão Market), with proposals that bring people even closer to the centennial municipal equipment, creating moments of magic between traditional products and seasonal fruit.

The city's street markets also dress up for Christmas, with products alluding to the season and lots of surprises.

But one of the spaces that will arouse the most curiosity will be Santa's House in the middle of Cordoaria, which will receive the last-minute requests of the little ones. The white-bearded character will be there every day, to hear what we want on the night of December 24th and be surprised by the most secret desires that only Santa confesses.

Detailed schedule of the Christmas 2023 in Porto available here.

Timetables:

Christmas Market, Ice Rink, and Parisian Carousel

Monday to Thursday – 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Fridays and eve of holidays – 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturdays – 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Sundays – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
December 1st and 8th – 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Free entry