Well it’s not every day you can type all of those things together in a headline!

There are some exciting things in the diary for the next few weeks in the Algarve, so we thought we would share some of them with you in advance.

We are particularly excited that Carnival time is almost here again – but more about that later!

The 31st January is the date for the annual Querença Sausage Fayre when the streets will come alive to the smell of sausages cooking, and there will be live music, stalls and processions to enjoy. It’s a small village near Loulé if you’re looking for it on the map!

Dave is particularly excited that the England Under-17s football team are back in action next month here in the Algarve when they return for the annual Algarve Tournament. The Young Lions will face opposition from Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands, with three games in five days. This is a great tournament to see high quality live football for free – alongside some famous faces from yesteryear who also attend to coach, support, scout or cheer along the teams!

With thanks to the brilliant Algarve Football Tours company – here are all the matches – with times, dates and venues:

The 39th edition of the U17s Tournament International Algarve – 5th to 9th February

Here is the match schedule:

February 5, 2016 | Friday
14:30 Netherlands – Germany in the Municipal Stadium in Lagos
15:30 Portugal – England at the Municipal Stadium Bela Vista, Parchal

February 7, 2016 | Sunday
14:30 Germany – England at the Municipal Stadium in Lagos
15:30 Portugal – Netherlands at the Municipal Stadium Bela Vista, Parchal

February 9, 2016 | Tuesday
14:00 England – Netherlands at the Municipal Stadium Bela Vista, Parchal
15:00 Portugal – Germany at the Algarve Stadium (Faro-Loulé)

You can read more about this tournament and see lots of photos from last year’s games in our blog post England U17’s Football in the Algarve

And you can read full details of the England squad via this link to the FA’s website. Dave is thrilled that three youngsters, Andre Dozzell, Nick Hayes and Ben Morris, from his beloved Ipswich Town have all been included in the squad!

Alyson was very happy to find a poster for an event next month in Loulé which looks like a must visit!

A Chocolate Fair – what’s not to like?!? Don’t worry – in the interest of research and investigation for the blog – it will be our pleasure to attend this one – sample everything – and report back to you all after the event! 😉

Of course it wouldn’t be February without Carnaval! Loulé is always heralded as ‘the’ event in the Algarve, and we have had some memorable visits there – you can read about last year’s event here via this link Carnival Season in the Algarve

You can enjoy Loulé’s Carnaval on the 6th 7th and 9th February this year – processions start at 3pm but get there early to be able to park and enjoy the atmosphere!

This year we have also promised to visit Armação de Pêra and experience their carnival too. Their events run on the 7th and 9th February with processions starting at 3pm both days outside the Holiday Inn Algarve Hotel. The theme this year is ‘the World of Fantasy’ and with stalls, processions and live music until 8pm it promises to be a great event.

It looks like we are going to have a busy few weeks enjoying so many lively and fun events here in the Algarve.