The absence of rain allowed the Carnival of Loulé to leave the street this Gordo Sunday, providing about 35,000 revelers an event “Great and Louletana”.
Contrary to what happened in other Corsicas in the country, in Loulé, the stage of the oldest carnival in Portugal, São Pedro helped to ensure the animation. The parade began with a slight delay of about 30 minutes, preventing the decoration of floats from being affected by the rain and ensuring the safety of about 600 extras. Without rain, but far from being “a drought” – just as the theme of this edition suggests – the parade was marked by good mood and enthusiastic participation of the public.
In addition to the revelry and satire, the event sought to sensitize the importance of water, addressing its scarcity and value. Messages such as “The Treasury of the Earth”, “Save to the Last Got” and “Water is Gold” echoed by the Louletano Sambadrome, reminding everyone the urgency of the theme.
The iconic Zé Povinho, a central figure of several editions of the Carnival of Loulé, was present, flashing the Eye to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, alluding to avocado who invade the algarve fields and consumes large amounts of water. The political satire also brought a sprinkling desalinizer to supply the island of Madeira, while Miguel Albuquerque, still president of the regional government, rested in the shadow of the banana tree.
The presidential race also did not go unnoticed, with Gouveia and Melo and Marques Mendes of buoys ready to accompany Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in a dive in the sea. António Costa emerged at the rudder of the Council of Europe, among other episodes of the national and international today that were the target of the critical and humorous look of the Corsican creatives.
The Louletan Parade also included several local references, such as the replica of the Old Bicas, one of the city’s water heritage, and Ribeira do Cadoço, where the Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the opposition leader Pedro Nuno Santos included. Football also took place at the party, with an allusion to the local club through the emblem Campinense-AL Nassr, represented on Cristiano Ronaldo’s jersey, dressed in yellow and blue, colors common to both teams.
Among the thousands of visitors, there were many national and foreign tourists who samba to the rhythm of Brazilian music, animated by DJ Rodriguez. The Carnival of Loulé has once again confirmed as the region’s main tourist poster this time of year, significantly boosting the local economy, with restoration and trade on the rise.
The parade returns this Monday, and on Tuesday of Entrudo, the city foresees a full house for the great closure of the 2025 edition.
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