Blue Whale Migration – March 2016
March is the peak month for spotting these incredible mammals, best observed from the islands of Sao Miguel, Pico and Faial. At 30 metres long and weighing an impressive 170 tonnes, you will be amazed by their grace as they cut through the ocean making their way from the warm waters of the south, where breeding occurs, to the colder waters of the north to feed. www.visitazores.com
Holy Ghost Festival – May to October 2016
The Holy Ghost Festival is the most important religious festival in the Azores and takes place between May and October, beginning after Easter and celebrated throughout the summer on each island. Beautiful processions pass through towns and villages where bread, meat and wine are distributed among the needy. Celebrations include flags, drums, singing and fireworks. The traditional “Holy Ghost Soups”, which consist of vegetable and meat stock poured over wheat bread, are often served. www.visitazores.com
Azores Trail Run – 28 May 2016
The ‘Azores Trail Run’ event is back for a third year on Faial Island, for serious athletes wanting to test their mettle. Participants can choose to run the 48km Coast to Coast trail or brave the Blue Island Ultra trail covering 70km over protected landscapes, volcanic craters and beautiful coastline along one of the Azores’ many sustainable hiking trails. There is also a Family 10km option with a lower level of difficulty. The route will take in dirt roads and trails and the lunar landscape of the Capelinhos Volcano. www.azorestrailrun.com
European Rally Championship – 2 – 4 June 2016
The 2016 SATA Rallye Azores, part of the European Rally Championships (ERC), will see an estimated 30,000 spectators gather for the exhilarating rally demonstration on the streets of Sᾶo Miguel’s largest city, Ponta Delgada. The island of Sᾶo Miguel, with its stunning coastline, volcanoes and verdant river valleys, will make a stunning backdrop to this high octane spectacular, which is now in its 51st year. www.satarallyeacores.com
10 Fest Azores – 20 June 2016
Food lovers are in for a treat as Sᾶo Miguel Island hosts 10 Fest Azores, one of Portugal’s largest food festivals. Acclaimed and Michelin Star chefs from around the world will travel to the festival for seven days to cook their own dishes and interpretations of Azorean cuisine. Now in its fifth year, the culinary event will take place at Anfiteatro, a stylish restaurant and cookery school for aspiring local chefs in Ponta Delgada Marina. www.taste.visitazores.com/en
Sanjoaninas Festival – 17-26 June 2016
This lively festival, dedicated to Saint John, will see an array of musical performances, colourful parades and games take over the UNESCO-listed city of Angra do Heroismo on Terceira Island for 10 days. The festivities begin with an opening procession and march of the Queen and then continue with concerts, food stalls, theatrical shows, fireworks and sporting events. www.visitazores.com
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series – July 2016
In July 2016 professional cliff divers from around the world will gather to participate in the International Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Taking place at the colossal cliffs of Vila Franca do Campo on the island of Sᾶo Miguel, brave competitors will take the plunge from 27 metres. The exact dates for the event will be announced soon. www.redbullcliffdiving.com
Azores Paragliding Festival – August 2016
This exhilarating festival is ideal for adventure lovers. See enthusiastic pilots compete for the top spot by taking off from the great heights of volcanoes and mountains at various spots across Sᾶo Miguel Island. Pilots will soar above expansive lakes and subtropical landscapes. www.visitazores.com
Semana dos Baleeiros (Whaler’s Week) – August 2016
Semana dos Baleeiros, a traditional festival in the seaside town of Lajes on Pico Island, remembers the history of the Azores’ whalers and whales and 2016 will mark 32 years since the last commercial whaling factory closed in the islands. As well as the religious celebrations, there will be musical performances, traditional shows, and sporting activities which take place around the whaling museum. www.visitazores.com
SATA Azores Pro Surfing Championships – September 2016
The SATA Airlines Azores Pro Surfing Championships is the archipelago’s prime surfing event, attracting international surfers from around the world. The competition will take place in September from Santa Barbara beach on Sᾶo Miguel Island. The islands are popular with surfers because of the impressive waves offered by the Atlantic, with large ground and wind swells reaching up to an impressive 15 feet. Exact dates of the championships are yet to be confirmed.
Big Game Fishing Tournament – September 2016
The annual Big Game Fishing Tournament, which takes place in the waters surrounding the islands of Faial, Pico and Sᾶo Jorge, will see anglers from around the world compete in national teams. Known for its underwater wildlife, the record for the world’s largest Blue Marlin was achieved in the Azores. Other Big Game fish such as White Marlin and species of tuna can also be found here. Exact dates of the tournament are yet to be confirmed. www.biggamefishing.visitazores.com
Angra Jazz Festival – 13-15 October 2016
The Angra Jazz Festival takes place at the beginning of October annually in the UNESCO-listed city of Angro do Heroismo in Terceira Island. The festival celebrates the Jazz genre and attracts both international and Azorean artists, featuring several performances from the city’s auditorium. In 2015, Gregory Porter and his band, one of the US’s most critically acclaimed jazz artists, performed. www.angrajazz.com
To find out more about the Azores, visit www.visitazores.com
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16 December 2015
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