March is camellias month at the annual exhibition in Parque de São Roque

Parque de São Roque is once again chosen as the venue for another edition of the Camellias Exhibit in Porto, scheduled for 2 and 3 March. Dozens of national and international producers will be present at the 28th edition, organised jointly by Porto City Council and Associação Portuguesa das Camélias.

Porto is devoted to its flower of choice –the camellia – and is once again promoting a large exhibition with multiple species of different colours and shapes in Parque de São Roque. On the first weekend of March, the venue is hosting a range of activities designed for the whole family, where camellias are the focal point for the different music, roving entertainment, circus and workshops for the youngest.

The public opening takes place on Saturday, 2 March at 2 p.m., and will include, as usual, the awards ceremony for the Best Camellia of Portuguese Origin, the Best Camellia and the Best Table Decoration and Floral Arrangement (at 3 p.m. in the Tent).

There's music in the Park

On Saturday 2 March, the Tent hosts the Amara Quartet, a female quartet that combines fado with classical music (3:30 p.m.), the Labirinto welcomes Charlotte Akendhead, who combines opera with pop (4 p.m.) and the Lago dos Três Repuxos hosts the meeting of two saxophonists: Rodrigo Amado and Ricardo Toscano (5 p.m.). Closing the evening we feature a duet of violinists, 'Blue & White', in the Tent (6 p.m.). All concerts are free, subject to capacity.

On the following day, 3 March, there will be a piano recital by Carlos Biachini in the Tent (11 a.m.), a concert by Pedro Lima and João Miguel Braga Soares that results from a sound activation ('...from a lover to a saint', in the Mirante do Parque, at 5 p.m.) and, to close, a show that brings together harpist Ana Aroso, saxophonist Isabel Anjo and soprano Marina Pacheco in 'Shiny Leaves'. The performance takes place at Casa São Roque at 6 p.m

Other arts are spread throughout the gardens

Over the weekend, the gardens will open up to more artistic expressions, with the roving entertainment of the Persil Noir project (2 March, 2:30 p.m.) and 'The Fabulous Time Stopping Machine', with a la minute photography (2 March, from 2:30 p.m.).

On Sunday, there will also be circus moments with 'Piano Clown' in the Tent (3 p.m.) and the show 'Carmim', by the Coração nas Mãos company, at Lago dos Três Repuxos (4 p.m.).

Also noteworthy is a workshop with the Florentine Explorer, an adventurer who will take us to discover the secrets of Parque de São Roque at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., on Sunday.

Guided Tours and Workshops

During the days of the event (and even before), Casa São Roque is organising a series of guided tours with several invited participants.

As usual, the Environmental Education Centre is holding a series of workshops on Sunday morning, the 3rd day: 'Origami Camellias', 'Creating Eco-creative Jewellery', 'Tea Tasting', 'Mask Decoration' and 'Tea Flower'. Participation is free, limited to the capacity of each workshop, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 28th Camellias Exhibit in Porto can be visited between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, 2 March, and between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, 3 March, with free access.

For more information see the programme attached.