Five-week programme to actually enjoying Christmas

Porto comes alive with a five-week programme of concerts, dance and circus acts, street theatre, workshops, exhibitions, markets, ice-skating rinks, lots of entertainment, live music and dancing in the streets.

Porto City Hall has selected the best entertainment agenda for this holiday season, beginning 1 December and running till 7 January.

The kick-off is the switching on of the Christmas tree in Avenida dos Aliados and the Christmas lightings in the busiest streets in Porto, at 5.30 pm, followed by a display of fireworks and a Xmas concert.

Also on 1 December, the two natural ice-skating rinks, at D. João I Square and in Boavista Roundabout, in the context of Fantasy Square.

Check below what the city of Porto has in store for you during the next five weeks.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTINGS OPENING

1 December | 5.30 pm | Avenida dos Aliados

ICE-SKATING RINKS | XMAS DANCE SET

1 December| 6 pm | D. João I Square and Boavista Roundabout | Free access

CHRISTMAS TREE

1 December to 7 January | Friday, Saturday and eve of holidays: 5.30 pm-2 am | Remaining days: 5.30 pm-00.30 am | General Humberto Delgado Square

CHRISTMAS LIGHTINGS

1 December to 7 January | Friday, Saturday and eve of holidays: 5.30 pm-02 am | Remaining days: 5.30 pm-00.30 am

INSTALLATION "NOVE BALOIÇOS/PALAVRAS, NOVE PALAVRAS/BALOIÇOS"

1 December to 26 December | Avenida dos Aliados

The installation comprises 9 swings and is back this season. Nine words for nine swings: Porto, Love, Party, Family, Christmas, Dream, Embrace, Peace and Magic.

FESTIVITIES NEXT TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE

"A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE" | CLASSICAL DANCING

2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 14, 29/12: 5.30 pm | 03/12: 17.45 pm

The Adventures of Pinocchio, a classical dancing show presented by the students of the Centre of Dance of Porto.

"SILENCE IS SEXY" | CONTEMPORARY DANCE

18, 19, 21/12 | 5.30 pm-17.45 pm

How to feature the invisible? How to demur silence? A contemporary dance show produced by the Balleteatro and performed by 17 second year students of the said Professional dance School.

"PELO MUNDO DA MÚSICA" | CONCERT

02/12 | 6 pm

Concert with Ensemble Vocal Pro Musica, features a travel through time and space, revisiting songs from different eras, to celebrating the Christmas spirit.

"JAZZ CHRISTMAS" | CONCERT

03/12 | 6.30 pm

A capella concert by PopUp, a band from Porto.

CORO LIRA | CONCERT

9 and 17/12 | 5.30 pm-6 pm

Classical, traditional and gospel music concert.

"XMAS JAZZ" | CONCERT

15, 16 and 20/12 | 5.30 pm-6 pm

Three voices choir to sing Xmas carols.

"FROM PORTO TO THE WORLD" | CONCERT

22 and 23/12 | 5.30 pm-6.30 pm

"TRENGO À VISTA" | CIRCUS

26, 27 and 28/12 | 5.30 pm-6 pm

A trip to the world of contemporary circus by Erva Daninha, a Company from Porto.
This performance features juggling and trapeze acts, among other. 

"THE POSTMAN" | CIRCUS

28/12 | 6.30 Pm-7.10 pm

An apparently distracted very funny postman, juggling around with parcels. This performance features physical theatre and juggling.

"THE JUGGLER" | CIRCUS

29/12| 6.30 pm-7.10 pm

A theatre-circus spectacle comprises improvisation, juggling and balance acts where fun is "taken seriously".

PUPPET SHOW AND CREATIVE WORKSHOPS | ANIMATION FOR CHILDREN/FAMILIES

Programme:

02/12

3 pm-3.45 pm "Quiquiriqui" (performance)

4 pm-4.45 pm "Galinholas Tagarelas" (workshop)

08/12

3 pm-3.45 pm "João Pateta" (performance)

4 pm-4.45 pm "O João, a Mãe e a Bruxa" (workshop)

"TALES WITH LIGHT", BY SAPHIR CRISTAL | ANIMATION FOR CHILDREN/FAMILIES

3, 9, 10, 16 and 17/12 | 3.30 pm-4.30 pm - "Contos à luz? do sol" | 6.30 pm-7.30 pm - "Contos à luz... da lua"

OPEN LAB NEW CIRCUS | ANIMATION FOR CHILDREN/FAMILIES

26 to 28/12 | 3 pm-4.30 pm

Juggling and balances workshops, by Erva Daninha.

TRAVELLING ENTERTAINMENT

"NATAL À PORTA" [Xmas is here!] | CYCLE OF CONCERTS

2 and 3/12 | 3.30 pm-4.30 pm | Torre dos Clérigos balcony |

9 and 10/12 | Augusto Rosa Street, 39 (next to Art District)

16 and 17/12 | Formosa Street (porta do Mercado do Bolhão)

The sound of music will enchant partygoers in three iconic buildings in the city. Saturdays offer lyrical singing and Sundays feature jazz.

- Lyrical singing:

02/12 | Liliana Nogueira, Ângela Alves (sopranos) and Maria João Nogueira (mezzo soprano)

09/12 | Job Tomé (baritone), Manuel Soares and João Miguel Gonçalves (tenors)

16/12 | Liliana Nogueira (soprano), Maria João Nogueira, (mezzo soprano), Manuel Soares e João Miguel Gonçalves (tenors)

- Jazz

03/12 | Mariana Vergueiro Quarteto

10/12 | Luis Lapa & Pé de Cabra

17/12| Miguel Ângelo Quarteto

DAR CORDA AO NATAL | CHORAL MUSIC

3, 10, 16, 17 and 23/12 | 3.30 pm-4 pm | Several sites in Porto

A Capella singing through Porto streets. The repertoire covers the best Christmas songs.

TOY - PERFORMING IN A MUSIC BOX | PERFORMANCE

2, 10, 17 e 30/12 | 3.30 pm-4.15 pm; 6 pm-6.45 pm | Several sites in Porto

A promenade performance where the audience is invited to discover the most intimate secrets of a music box, hidden in a woman's body.

CORETOSCÓPIOS | LUMINOSITY AND KINETIC INSTALLATION

08/12-07/01 | Fri, Sat, and the eve of holidays: 5.30 pm-2 am | Remaining days: 5.30 pm-00.30 am| Bandstands in the city

Five installations will occupy the city's bandstands during the holiday season, in a combination of movement and light.

PARALLEL PROGRAMME | 09/12-30/12

Puppet shows and creative workshops inspired on the bandstands history.

09/12 | Cordoaria bandstand

3 pm-3.45 pm "Bravos Reis, Bravos Amores" | Puppet Show

4 pm-4.45 pm "Família Real" | Creative Workshop on building wire puppets

16/12 | São Lázaro bandstand

3 pm-3.45 pm "João Pateta" I Puppet Show

4 pm-4.45 pm "O João, a Mãe e a Bruxa" I Puppet Creative Workshop (Drama and Musical Expression23/12 | Marquês bandstand

3 pm-3.45 pm " História do Caracol que Descobriu a Importância da Lentidão" | Puppet'show

4 pm-4.15 pm I "Animais do País Dente-de-Leão" I Creative workshop in building glove puppets.

"WHITE TREE CRISTAL DANCE" | SOUND INSTALLATION

8, 9, 16 and 23/12 | 3.30 pm-4.15 pm; 6 pm-6.45 pm | several locations in town

Sound installation combining a white tree, crystal glasses and a ballerina. The audience will be invited to participate.

"THE POSTMAN" | CIRCUS

28/12 | 1 pm-1.20 pm | Bolhão Market and surrounding area

CIRCO COLISEU PORTO

01/12-01/01 |26/12: 3 pm; 25/12 and 01/01: 5 pm; 10 and 17/12: 5.30 pm; 7, 15 and 22/12: 9 pm | Coliseu

Coliseu Porto hosts some of the best circus acts with national and international reputation artist.

CIRCUS SOLEDAD CARDINALI: "THE GREAT CHRISTMAS SHOW"

30/11-07-01 | Monday to Friday: 9.30 pm; Sat, Sun and Holiday: 5 pm and 9.30 pm; starting from 17/12 - Sun: 11 am | Porto Queimódromo