12.10 19:00-22:00
12.11 12:00-23:00
12.12 12:00-22:00
Taipa Houses
Taipa Houses
Program
Integrated for the first time in the Encounter in Macao - Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, the 24th Lusofonia Festival offers to the public a very diverse program of activities, namely a cultural exhibition of each of the local Portuguese-speaking communities, typical gastronomy, music and dance performances and games for the public of all ages, presenting their culture to the visitors.
The first edition of the Lusofonia Festival was held in June 1998, with the main objective of honoring the Portuguese-speaking communities in Macao for their contribution to Macao’s development. Over the years, this event has become an important event for sharing the culture of Portuguese-speaking communities with the Chinese culture, revealing Macao's role as a platform for cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The programme of this edition of the Festival is as diversified as in previous years. The 10 Portuguese-speaking communities residing in Macao, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Goa, Daman and Diu, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor and the Macanese community will present cultural exhibitors at the site to show their music, arts, images, handicrafts, traditional costumes, literature, tourist information, amongst others, as well as typical snacks and drinks of their countries or regions.
In the three days of the Festival, around 30 local Portuguese-speaking artistic groups and one group from Mainland China will perform different styles of music and dance on the main stage in the Amphitheater of Taipa Houses and soft music on the stage installed in Largo do Carmo. The temporary restaurant of the Festival, operating in Taipa Municipal Garden, will serve grill food and typical Portuguese speciailties for lunch on Saturday and Sunday and dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition, during the three-day dinner of the Festival, at Largo do Carmo, specialities from the various participating countries or regions will be served. During the event, next to the entrance to Taipa Houses, there will also be a temporary kiosk that will serve typical Portuguese snacks and drinks. Food and drink consumption are only allowed at the designated areas.
Furthermore, visitors of all ages interested in participating in the Portuguese Traditional Games can do so on the spot, at Largo do Carmo, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, namely the ski race, sack race, wooden spoon race, climbing the tallow stick, tug of war, throwing the ball, rings on the crosspiece, amongst others, whose winners will be awarded with Portuguese bottles of wine, codfish, canned sardines or sausage. Table Football Tournaments will also be held for teams of two participants under 15 years old and another for 16 years and over, and the enrollment can be made at the Information booth at the event venue until 4:30 pm on Saturday. There will also be, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, a recreational space dedicated to the children which includes various games. A temporarily radio station, "Radio Carmo", will be installed on site to broadcast Portuguese-speaking countries and regions music throughout the Festival and interview the public.