Society

This week is time for Xmas shopping and shop window competition in Porto

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Busilis / Menção Honrosa (2018)

Filipa Brito

The Window decoration contest is running in Porto until 17th December. Escape to Porto downtown and get inspirational ideas for your Xmas ornaments.

The Christmas Window competition is back this 2020, and it runs until 17th December. The jury of the competition received 145 applications, but as much as 138 entries made it to the contest for best ornamented Xmas shop window, as seven applications were not appropriated or were cancelled by the shop owners.

The quality of contenders is high, which makes the task for the jury a more difficult one. Assessment kicked off on 5th December and the best Xmas Windows will be judged based on originality and creativity; integration of the store product(s) with the window decoration; colours; materials; lighting; set harmony.

The Municipality of Porto will award the three best competitors with prize moneys of 2.250, 1.750 and 1.250 euros, respectively, besides trophies. Honourable Mentions can be attributed from the 4th to the 10th competitor.

This year, there is also the symbolic prize of “Montra Amiga do Ambiente” [“Window friend of the Environment”, free translation], and it means that the winner shows the commitment towards environment protection, pollution prevention and sustainable use of resources.

The aim of the contest is to promote businesses participation and to create awareness on the importance of shopping local and boosting local economy and traditional trade. Thus, the Municipality of Porto is handing over Porto Traders 162.500 discount vouchers, granting customers a 2-euro discount per each 20-euro buy.

Porto is a great place to visit at Christmas time, especially with storefronts all dressed up to welcome the merriest time of year. In addition, there is parking fees exemption for each 120 minutes, in municipal parking lots, namely Trindade, Silo Auto, Duque de Loulé and Alfândega, for all those that want to stroll around the city downtown and find that perfect gift; this is a way of helping the local traders best cope with the pandemic constraints and it is indeed the most inspirational plan to start celebrating Xmas.

The “Montras de Natal” contest is here, as tradition, to showcase the best businesses in the city of Porto. The Xmas Window decoration contest is promoted by Porto City Hall, jointly with the Traders Association of Porto.