<![CDATA[ Carnaval mais português de Portugal assinala os 50 anos do 25 de Abril ]]>

The most Portuguese Carnival in Portugal, as the one in Torres Vedras is known, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April this year. “Expectations are high. Let’s hope that Saint Peter will help us with the weather so that we can have half a million visitors”, Rui Penetra, president of Promotorres, the municipal company responsible for the organisation, told CM . In the city centre, the usual Carnival monument has figures of figures ranging from Salazar to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, as well as Luís Montenegro, Pedro Nuno Santos and André Ventura. “It is often said that the political class plays with the people all year round and now the roles are reversed”, says the person in charge, revealing that this year’s budget is 1.150 million euros.

The usual parades take place on Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon, Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon. Access to the parade areas is paid (16 euros for 4 days or 8 euros per day). The school parade will be the first, this Friday morning, and is free.

In Samora Correia, the organization expects 50 to 60 thousand visitors, especially for the carnival parades on Sunday and Tuesday afternoons, with free entry, and also for the other festivities. “It is the best Carnival in Ribatejo. The parades will have nine official floats and we expect another five or six spontaneous floats. We have a clumsy carnival and we make the party”, explains Rúben Vicente, from ARCAS, the association responsible for the organization, whose budget is 40 thousand euros.