March 22 will once again go down in the history of Lisbon, and also of Portugal, as the second time that a St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held .
On this day, from 3.30pm, Avenida da Liberdade will be “painted” green, with more than 200 musicians from 11 bagpipe bands, eight from Portugal and three from Spain, playing some of the best-known Irish tunes, heading for Rossio.
What is St. Patrick’s Day?
The St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the most celebrated Irish national holidays in the world, celebrated by more than 70 million people.
It honors Ireland’s patron saint and it is customary on this day to hold large parties in his honor, especially parades, where people dress in green.
It ‘s also customary to drink a lot of beer on this day, especially in Irish pubs spread across all continents.
Musical march to Rossio
This march, which will take in the whole of Avenida da Liberdade, will feature 11 bagpipe bands and will culminate in downtown Lisbon, specifically in Rossio, where a themed market and live performances will extend the Irish-style festivities.
To make the moment even more special, Guinness, the official beer of the celebration, will be present with a double-decker bus, giving guests a privileged view of the event.
If you don’t have anything to do next weekend, this is a good opportunity to see and feel more closely how the Irish live this national holiday so intensely, on a day that promises lots of music, color and joy.