Porto offers fun and joy to everyone this festive season

Christmas festivities have officially kicked off in Porto, and the city has dressed up for the occasion.
The holiday season calls for joy and merriment, with loads of lively activities and tailored programmes to jingle all the way till January. 

 A giant Xmas tree lights up the Avenida dos Aliados in Porto and multiple events at one go have lifted the holiday spirit in town; there was music, comedy, dance, tales and lots of fun, and shopping as well.

The street markets and fairs are also the perfect spots to find that one special gift. Rush to the Christmas market of Porto, at the Praça da Batalha till 24 December or the "Arts & Crafts Markets" nearby, at the Praça dos Poveiros, till 23 December.

Also, there are the ice-rinks at D. João I square and at the Boavista Roundabout. The ice-skating rinks inaugurated on 1 December with a show that brought back the magic of Xmas gifts.

As tradition in Porto, Christmas is also celebrated with a musical cycle that features up to eight concerts till December ends, the stage being the façade of iconic buildings in Porto.

Last Sunday, the Torre dos Clérigos hosted the concert by Maria João Gomes, Raquel Fernandes and Liliana Nogueira (Ópera de Bolso), who performed Xmas carols in the Clérigos balcony.

Sunday, 2 December, was also the day children were invited to enter the realm of the giant Xmas tree in Avenida dos Aliados and listen to the first tales of Fantásia by Saphir Cristal.

 See here (PDF) (issuu) the full Xmas and New Year programming in Porto.