Despite being one of the most celebrated popular saints across Europe, no city celebrates São João like Porto, in a popular demonstration that draws crowds to the streets, infecting each of the city's neighborhoods and parishes, enthusing everyone who participates or discovers this party for the first time.
Due to its unique and special characteristics, but also to the ever-increasing quality and diversity of its programming, the Festas de São João became one of the city's anchor events and an inseparable brand of Porto, reinforcing its presence in the international tourist scene, namely due to this strong association with unique and differentiating events of the Porto destination.
From the youngest to the oldest, everyone celebrates São João and there are many traditions associated with this day: from launching hot air balloons, hitting passers-by with hammers on the heads, smearing leeks on people's faces, jumping over the bonfires, offer basil named "manjericos" with traditional courts or watch the fireworks over the Douro river, where everyone gathers at midnight to enjoy the show with the best view over the city.
As tradition dictates, sardines are grilled in any corner of the city and there is music and dancers everywhere to liven up the night.
The party only ends at dawn and the most resistant end the night walking along the waterfront, from Ribeira to Foz do Douro, where they wait for sunrise.
Source: Agora Porto
