International Folklore Festival affirms traditional culture from four continents in Porto

The International Folklore Festival City of Porto is back in town from 31 July to 4 August, with the objective to present and affirm traditional culture and folklore of numerous local and international participants from four continents, including South America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe (which features three folk groups).

This event is organised by the Folk Dance Group of Paranhos, and sponsored by Porto City Hall, through its Municipal Company PortoLazer.

The inaugural moment is the gala performance at Gomes Teixeira Square (in front of the Rectory), scheduled for 31 July, at 9.30 pm, staging the Ballroom Dancing Club of Porto.

Then, there is the folk groups presentation: the host Folk Dance Group of Paranhos, the Asociación Identidad Peru, the Folk Grup Mahia Rapa Nui (Polynesia), the Folklore Ensemble Szczecinianie (Poland), the Folk Dance Group Zora (Serbia) and the Taiwan Folk Music Ensemble.

Also, on Thursday, 1 August, starting at 4pm, there is a parade in Foz, Molhe with the initiative "Dancing in the Avenue", where the groups will showcase their traditional heritage. In the evening, the same day, the entertainment goes back to the Rectory, aka "Praça dos Leões" with performances by the folk groups of Peru and Taiwan, at 9.30pm.

Same place, the next day, on 2 August, the programme features the Ethnographic and Folkloric Group of Belide (Portugal) and the groups of Polynesia and Serbia.

Besides, as of 3.30pm there will be various surprises all around Porto, in the framework of the International Folklore Festival.

Saturday is Ethnographic Parade day, departing from Batalha Square, at 3pm and heading all the way to Santa Catarina Street.

Around 5pm, all the groups take part in a mass at the Church of Nossa Senhora da Areosa and at 9.30pm all the groups gather in front of the Rectory for the closing gala.

PROGRAMME:

31 July

9.30pm | Praça de Gomes Teixeira (in front of the Rectory) Opening Gala

1 August

4pm | Molhe: Dançar na Avenida

9.30pm | Praça de Gomes Teixeira: folklore

2 August

3.30pm | several locations: street animation

9.30pm | Praça de Gomes Teixeira: folklore

3 August

3pm | Praça da Batalha: Etnographic Parade

5pm | Church of Nossa Senhora da Areosa: participatiry mass

9.30pm | Praça de Gomes Teixeira: Closing Gala

4 August

3.30pm | Garden of Arca D'Água: Paranhos Festival