Have you been to Festas do Povo de Campo Maior? No? Neither have we, so that’s where we’re headed this weekend: Portalegre District in the Alentejo Region.
The flower festival is modelled after Festa Dos Tabuleiros in Tomar — streets decorated in paper flowers by volunteers — but there is no parade of girls carrying trays of bread on their heads in Campo Maior. The Festa in Tomar dates back to medieval times while Campo Maior’s is from the 16th century, and only in the last 30 years or so has it been mostly a flower festival.
The current Festas do Povo (People’s Festival) covers a larger area than Tomar’s: 104 streets, about 20km, using almost 30 tonnes of material. The last edition was in 2011, and I believe this is the 21st. The population of Campo Maior is just under 8,500 people (2011 stats), and there are an estimated 7,500 volunteers for this festival, which gives you an idea about the level of participation to launch an event of this size in a town this small. It is one of the characteristics of Portugal that continually impresses me, and I notice it at every single event I attend anywhere in the country: the level of solidarity and community spirit is incredible here. Everyone pitches in, young and old. It is how Portugal’s culture stays strong.
The Festas take place from August 22-30, and you can find out more about it here at their official website (PT/EN):
http://www.festasdopovo.pt/
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