If you love traveling back in time and are always on the lookout for the most beautiful castles to visit near Lisbon, we have good news for you: the Benfica Medieval Fair returns from April 30 to May 3 ( Thursday through Sunday), with free admission.
For four days, Silva Porto Park (or Mata de Benfica) will be the setting for a medieval market, dancing, street performers, jugglers, knights, fire shows, and more. The program features activities and attractions for all ages, including, for example, children’s games.
On April 30, the Benfica Medieval Fair opens its doors to the public starting at 5 p.m., but on the remaining days, the venue welcomes visitors earlier, around noon. But so you don’t miss a thing, we’re sharing the full program, broken down by day.
Medieval Fair Program
April 30 (Thursday)
- 5:00 p.m. – Opening of the Medieval Market
- 5:30 p.m. – Market opening procession led by the herald and his entourage
- 7:00 PM – Giant jugglers liven up the village
- 7:30 PM – Court dances
- 8:00 PM – Combat between men-at-arms at the military camp
- 8:30 PM – Minstrels of the kingdom and Moorish dancers with “Flor do Al-AndaLuz”
- 9:00 PM – Jugglers and street performers
- 9:30 PM – Parade of minstrels, dancers, jugglers, and knights through the streets of the town
- 11:00 PM – Closing of the Medieval Market
May 1 (Friday)
- 12 p.m. – Opening of the Medieval Market
- 3:00 p.m. – Market opening parade escorted by the royal guard
- 3:30 p.m. – Jugglers and street performers
- 4:00 p.m. – Court dances
- 4:30 p.m. – The royal guard patrols the market
- 5:00 PM – Minstrels of the kingdom and Moorish dancers with “Flor do Al-AndaLuz”
- 5:30 p.m. – Military training for infantrymen at the military camp
- 6:00 PM – Court dances
- 6:30 PM – Armory display and combat competition among members of the royal guard
- 7:00 PM – Minstrels of the kingdom and Moorish dancers with “Flor do Al-AndaLuz”
- 7:30 PM – Jugglers and street performers
- 8:00 PM – Parade of minstrels, Moorish dancers, noblemen, and acrobats
- 8:30 PM – Court dances
- 9:00 PM – Delicacies and meals at the taverns
- 9:45 PM – Minstrels of the kingdom announce the last show of the night
- 10:00 PM – Fire show
- 10:30 PM – Closing parade
- 11:00 PM – Closing of the Medieval Market
May 2 (Saturday)
- 12:00 PM – Opening of the Medieval Market.
- 3:00 p.m. – Giant jugglers liven up the village
- 3:30 p.m. – Royal Procession
- 4:00 PM – The procession of Their Majesties
- 4:30 PM – Court dances
- 5:00 PM – Combat training among men-at-arms at the military camp
- 5:30 p.m. – Minstrels of the Kingdom
- 6:00 PM – Court dances
- 6:30 PM – Street performers liven up the market
- 7:00 PM – Minstrels of the kingdom and Moorish dancers with “Flor do Al-AndaLuz”
- 7:30 PM – Jugglers and street performers
- 8:00 PM – Parade of minstrels, Moorish dancers, noblemen, and acrobats
- 8:30 PM – Court dances (Stage)
- 9:00 PM – Delicacies and meals at the taverns
- 9:45 PM – Minstrels of the kingdom announce the last show of the night
- 10:00 PM – Fire show
- 10:30 PM – Closing parade for the day’s festivities
- 11:00 PM – Closing of the Medieval Market
May 3 (Sunday)
- 12:00 PM – Opening of the Medieval Market.
- 3:00 p.m. – The desert sorceresses and their enchanted serpent ward off the evil eye (
- 3:30 p.m. – Market opening parade
- 4:00 PM – Jugglers and street performers
- 4:30 PM – Court dances
- 4:45 PM – Training of new recruits at the military camp (Stage).
- 5:00 PM – Dance performance: Jardim do Al-AndaLuz
- 5:30 PM – Minstrels of the kingdom and street performers liven up the market
- 6:00 PM – The Innkeepers
- 6:30 PM – Court dances
- 7:00 PM – Minstrels of the kingdom and Moorish dancers with “Flor do Al-AndaLuz”
- 7:30 PM – Court dances
- 8:00 PM – The Innkeepers
- 8:30 PM – Closing parade of the festivities
- 9:00 PM – Closing of the Medieval Market.
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