Events calendar Terceira

From May to October, numerous bullfighting shows take place in the villages of Terceira. The bull runs through the streets attached to a long rope held by a group of men. An important reminder: the Portuguese - and therefore the Azoreans - do not execute the bulls at the end of a bullfight. Even if you're firmly opposed to this kind of event, don't miss it, as the popular fervor is intense throughout, and what's more, it's quite comical. If you're lucky enough to be in the Azores at this time of year, it's a must-see.

Since 1992, the Vine and Wine Festival has been celebrated in Biscoitos, north of Terceira, to promote the island's harvesting traditions. Traditional grape harvests are re-enacted, along with the entire ancient harvesting process: transporting baskets, picking, loading grapes and transporting them to the Wine Museum, crushing, blessing and tasting the must. The event concludes with a grape-pickers' dinner and wine tasting, accompanied by music and dance.

These celebrations commemorate the 1829 battle of the Portuguese civil war between absolutists and liberals. In Vila de Praia, the latter triumphantly repulsed the enemy, then renamed their town Praia da Vitória. Today, the battle is celebrated all over Terceira, and especially in Praia da Vitória. The festivities include bull runs, exhibitions, concerts, parades, a gastronomic fair, water sports events and competitions, and always end with a grand fireworks display.

The Mardi Gras festivities, the danças de Entrudo, are one of the island's major festivities. For four days, locals take to the streets or attend popular theatrical performances. Processions, music, dances, costumes and satirical stories plunge the city into a unique festive atmosphere. According to chronicles, the first popular theater event dates back to 1622, when the Jesuits commemorated the canonization of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier in Angra.

The Terceira Autumn Literary Festival takes place in Praia da Vitória, which for the occasion becomes the region's major literary center. The town council is behind the event, which is organized by the Ramo Grande Auditorium and the Terceira Youth and Arts Academy. The program includes book presentations, book signings, poetry readings, lectures, concerts and film screenings. A major literary event, bringing together almost a hundred publishers and over 50,000 books.

Since 1999, the capital of Terceira has been living to the rhythm of jazz concerts for three days, much to the delight of locals and tourists alike. The Angra Jazz Festival, organized every year at the beginning of October by an association with the support of the town council, among others, is held in an old arena transformed into a cultural center. Designed for the general public, the event not only brings together some of the biggest names in jazz for concerts, but also organizes related activities such as workshops, conferences, exhibitions and even cinema. A must for fans of the genre!

And lest we forget that Pico is famous for its wine and vineyards, whose landscapes are a Unesco World Heritage Site, the island celebrates its annual Grape Harvest Festival. At the beginning of September, Madalena becomes the scene of a fair and other ethnographic events linked to the cultivation of vines. Expect wine-related activities and workshops, and of course, wine tastings! A must for wine lovers.

Every year, this festival brings together folk groups from all over the world to perform all over the island of Terceira for a week. The Angra do Heroísmo Municipal Sports Pavilion hosts a variety of shows and a craft fair during the festivities. The event is considered Portugal's biggest folk festival. It's a unique festival in the Azores, offering the chance to travel with sounds and dances from the four corners of the globe. Not to be missed for its beauty, exoticism and color.