Algarve Carnaval . . .

One of the most colourful events held in the Algarve each February is "Carnaval" which is held at the beginning of Lent. Most of the larger towns throughout the Algarve stage a carnaval around this time. The Loulé Carnaval is regarded as the premier event and has been held nearly every year since 1906. Even a cyclone in 1941 and the 1939-1945 world war (Portugal remained neutral) was not enough to stop Carnaval. This event was initially organised by a group of individuals and over the years has been organised by Loulé hospital amongst others.

In 1977 Loulé Câmara (town council) took over the organisation realising that this event was becoming increasingly popular to tourists as well as locals. Loulé now stages the largest Carnaval in the Algarve and draws tens of thousands of people here over the three day event. Tavira in the eastern Algarve also stages a Carnaval which is fast becoming more popular with tourists. A smaller Carnaval is also held in Alte which is seen by many as the "prettiest" Portuguese village in the Algarve.