This is the best São João celebration ever in Porto! Here are some hints!

June has arrived and with it the most popular feast in town, the São João, or the Feast of Saint John, the popular saint celebrated in Porto, the patron of the city. The holiday is on 24th June, but the longest festive evening in the Invicta happens on 23rd June with music and dancing as partygoers enjoy the numerous events all over town.

This is a wonderfully hectic month of June in Porto, where both residents and visitors can sense the city's unique atmosphere, which refers to more than just climate, but rather the city's pace of life; these days Porto has an atmosphere that motivates and entertains, with the UEFA Nations League and the NOS Primavera Sound happening at the same time and setting the pace for festivities and celebrations.

Popular tradition and community engagement make this one of the most popular concerts all over Europe, featured in magazines such as National Geographic.

The "Festa de São João" is rooted in pagan courtship rituals, where basil plants, carnations, lemon verbena, "leeks" and plastic hammers are used to dole out friendly whacks on the head of passers-by.

This year, the annual competition, promoted by Porto City Hall, features the "Cascatas de São João" competition [Cascade of Saint John], and it is possible to watch the amazing 34 "cascades", done by the commune residents.

Besides, there is also a chance to participate in the construction of such a cascade, as workshops are open to the community during the first week of the month of June, which will be inaugurated at the Bolhão Temporay Market, on 13 June.

The celebration of São João truly begins on 22nd June with the Rusgas of Saint John's Festival, where at nightfall, people go out to the streets to revel, forming "rusgas", spontaneous marches of people in groups, singing and dancing, towards a festival or fair.

On the 23rd, the eve of St. John's Festival, thousands of partygoers gather in the city centre to honour the city's patron saint. Concerts are part of the agenda, prepared by the City Hall.

This festival is a landmark in Porto's culture and tradition and is experienced by residents, tourists and visitors alike.

The Aliados Avenue transform into a vibrant festive square featuring Popular Portuguese music concerts in the evening. The line-up includes artists Jorge Palma, Marta Pereira da Costa, Gospel Collective, Bezegol, João Gil and the Ala dos Namorados, Ana Bacalhau, Carlão, João Pedro Pais and Tim.

At midnight, festival-goers make a short break to look at the sky at Saint John's firework spectacle. All concerts are open-access to the public.

The whole programme will be announced shortly.