Camp Major. People's parties begin tomorrow with over 100 flowery streets

Apeople's Parties are back in Camp Major. About 400,000 people are expected at this event that starts this Saturday, all to see the more than 100 streets “engaged” with paper flowers, according to the organization.

Promoted by the Association of Festivals of the People of Campo Maior, chaired by João Manuel Nabeiro, the celebrations took place for the last time in 2015, returning this year, after an investment of around two million euros.

In a statement sent today to the Lusa agency, the Association of People's Festivals of Campo Maior indicated that the opening ceremony of the event takes place from 10:30 on Saturday, in the municipal garden, extending the event until 16.

The program of the first day includes, among other moments, a tribute to Commendador Rui Nabeiro (1931-2023), founder of Delta Cafés, a visit to the house where this natural entrepreneur from Campo Maior was born, and a ruckus by the arteries of the village decorated with paper flowers.

Accomplished by popular will, the Festivals of the People of Campo Maior were recognized, in 2021, as an intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO).

These traditional festivals are known for presenting many streets of that Alentejo village, especially in the historic centre, 'engalant' with thousands of paper flowers, the most diverse colors and shapes, handmade by the population.

Even before the official opening, already tonight, one of the highlights of the initiative takes place, when the popular are working on decorating the streets with paper flowers.

The operation is called “the night of the enthralling” and is one of the most appreciated moments by the people of that raiana village of Alentejo, today told Lusa source of the organization, indicating that the work should start “about 19:00”.

The placement of decorations on the streets will then take place throughout the night, prevailing the “spirit of community and interhelp” among those involved, added the same source.

In statements to Lusa in July, João Manuel Nabeiro considered “difficult” to predict the number of people who will pass through the village during the holidays, but pointed to a number of more than 400,000 visitors.

According to the organization, more than 4,000 volunteers are involved in the event this year.

Asked about the amount of paper transformed by volunteers into flowers and props to adorn the more than 100 streets participating in this edition, João Manuel Nabeiro indicated that the total should be around “50 tons”.

According to the Association of People's Festivals in Campo Maior, during the days of the event, visitors will be able to have rest areas, accessible sanitary facilities and spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility.

In this first edition with UNESCO’s ‘Seal’ of Immaterial Cultural Heritage, visitors to the People’s Festivals will also have access to a train “supporting mobility”, designed to “facilitate travel” and ensure “more comfortable” access to the main areas of the event, the organization added.

“ A family area is also available, especially prepared to provide parents, mothers and babies with a quiet and reserved environment,” said the promoter association.

The Festivals of the People of Campo Maior will also count, over the nine days they take place, with various musical shows.