• The Lusofonia Festival is an all-in-one fiesta! (Photo courtesy of Cultural Affairs Bureau)
  • Traditional Portuguese games are a major draw of the Lusofonia Festival (Photo courtesy of Cultural Affairs Bureau)

22nd Lusofonia Festival Salutes Portuguese-speaking Communities from Around the World

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Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and co-organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the Municipal Affairs Bureau, the 22nd Lusofonia Festival will showcase elements of the far-flung Portuguese-speaking countries’ culture from 18th to 20th October on the promenade of the picturesque lakefront Taipa Houses. A diverse, colourful programme of activities embracing music and dance, product booths, gastronomy and games, will enable residents and tourists to experience Portuguese-speaking countries’ customs firsthand in a joyous, festive atmosphere second to none.

Performing groups from nine Portuguese-speaking countries and regions are lined up to present a cornucopia of music and dance, with several local arts groups also performing in nearby Carmo Square. And that’s not all - a ‘pop-up’ restaurant serving typical Portuguese grilled food and specialties from around the world is sure to get the taste buds popping!

One and all are invited to participate in traditional Portuguese games such as pole climbing, bigfoot, tug of war, sack racing and table football tournaments - while the kids can be let loose in their very own games zone. Meanwhile, an on-site radio station is primed to broadcast Portuguese music throughout each and every day of the 3-day shindig.

Representatives from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Goa, Daman and Diu, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor - and Macao - will introduce their countries’ or regions’ traditional music, photography, arts and crafts, costumes, literature and gastronomy from individual booths overlooking the enchanting Taipa Houses lake.

The first edition of the Lusofonia Festival held in June 1998 integrated activities celebrating Portugal Day, Camões Day and Portuguese Communities Day as a way of honouring the Portuguese-speaking community in Macao for its contribution to Macao’s development. Over the years it has become a cultural milestone not only of the Portuguese-speaking communities, showcasing Macao’s role as a platform of cultural exchange between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, but as a ‘long weekend’ must-visit open air party beloved of thousands.