The XXXI Golegã National Horse Fair

The Golegã Horse Fair has taken place in the small agricultural town of Golegã since the eighteenth century.

Approximately one and half hour's drive from Lisbon, the Fair which will take place from the 3rd to the 12th November, and is a 5 day 24 hour spectacle of the Lusitano horse. The main event focuses on equestrian activities, with competitions, games, exhibitions and parades at the fairground and around the town.

The festival is divided into different competitions: the Horse Driving Competition, which consists of Dressage, Marathon and Cones with horse and carriage; the Endurance Ride Competition; Showjumping; Gymkana for juniors; the Portuguese Horsemanship Competition; the National Dressage Competition; the Three- and Four-Years-Old Competitions; the National Competition of Working Horses; the Horse Driving Derby and Team Cross Country. In addition there are traditional parades of riders and carriages. There are also evening displays by the Portuguese School of Equesterian Art and by Luis Valença's Equestrian Centre of Leziria Grande.

No Portuguese fair would be complete without local and national gastronomy. Some of the culinary treats on offer include roasted chestnuts and barbecued chicken, all washed down with a local wine appealingly known as “foot water” (agua-pé). The wine is made by adding water to the crushed remains of the grape husks left over at the bottom of the barrel. It might not sound very appealing, but in Golegã it's surprisingly poular.

Check the programme.