For many, this event is "the real carnival in Portugal", which is also recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. It takes place from March 1st to March 4th. "Podence Carnival" is a social event associated with the end of winter and the beginning of spring, explains the organization's website. Between Sunday and Carnival Tuesday, in the small village of Podense in the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros, "caretos" - masked characters dressed in costumes decorated with fringed wool, tin, or leather masks, and waist-high rattles - parade through the streets.
Let us recall that the "Careto de Podense" is known for its performance, "rattles", which symbolize women, a symbolic act linked to a distant past and a possible connection to ancient agrarian and fertility rituals.
The Carnival of Podense 2025 is an unforgettable celebration that will be full of traditions, colors, and joy. It will take place from March 1st to 4th in the village of Podense, in the Macedo de Cavaleiro municipality. Here is the program for the event:
March 1st:
- 9am00 - Walk
- 10.30 - Traditional market
- 11.00 - "Paint your mask" activity
- 11.30 - Street animation
- 13.00 - Regional lunch
- 15.00 - Boat tours in Albufeira do Azibo
- 17.30 - Facanitos at Large (facanitos à solta)
- 23.30 - Gastronomic Evening
- Rattle Night - Noite de Chocaleiros
March 2nd:
- 9.30 - Carnival de Caretache
- Boat trips in Albufeira do Azibo
- Traditional market
- Street animation
- Lunch on "Fat Sunday" - Domingo "Gordo"
- Street animation
- Free Caretos
- Opening of the Do Careto Museum Exhibition
- Gastronomic evening
- Traditional concert
March 3rd:
9:30 a.m.: Walk along the "Rattles Road" (Trilho de Chocaleiro)
11:30 a.m.: Visit to the Terras de Cavaleiros Geopark
Noon: The "Paint Your Mask" Experience
1:00 p.m.: Regional Lunch
2:00 pm: Visit to the Terras de Cavaleira Geopark
3:30 pm: Traditional Market
4:00 PM: Boat Tours of Albufeira Do Azibo
5:00 PM Street Animation
5:30 PM Animation of "Cercimac" Users
6:00 Experience "Being Careto" ("Ser Careto")
8:30 Gastronomic Evening
10:00 Magic Mask Night with a Mysterious Parade
11:00 Traditional Concert
March 4th:
9:30 Boat Trips in Albufeira do Azibo
10:00 Walk Along the "Rattle Road"
10:30 Traditional Market
11:00 The "Paint Your Mask" Experience
11:30 Street Animation
13:00 Carnival Lunch
15:00 Street Animation
15:30 Free Caretos
16:00 Marathon Parade
7:30 Burning of an Effigy
Podence Carnival 2025: How to Get There?
Podense is a village located in the Macedo de Cavaleiro municipality in northeastern Portugal. If you are planning a trip to Podense, especially during the carnival season, it is recommended to plan in advance.
To get there by car, from Lisbon, take the A1 highway and then the A4 toward Braganza, before turning onto the Macedo de Cavaleiros highway. The journey will take approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Alternatively, you can also take a bus. Although there is currently no direct service from Lisbon to Podense, there are several bus routes operated by Rede Expressos that can bring you to Macedo de Cavaleiros. Some of these routes include 008, 300, 302, 317, and 341. The bus journey will take around 6 hours and 10 minutes.
For those who prefer train travel, the nearest train station is located in Mirandela. From there, you can hire a car to drive to Macedo de Cavaleiros before continuing on foot to Podense.
