Welcome to our post for Loulé Carnival 2016, a vibrant and noisy event full of fun and safe for all the family. The carnival is one of the oldest annual events here on the Algarve having run for over 100 continuous years. The Carnival runs on the 6th, 7th and 9th February and this years theme is “The Great Shipwreck” with pirates galore and its usual political undertones. Entrance is only 2 Euros and for that you get a multitude of floats, Samba Bands and wonderful Brazilian dancers. An event, as you will see, worth putting in your diary.

The clouds looked ominous driving along the A22 towards Loulé, indeed some spots of rain smeared the windscreen but luckily the rain held off, it was a grey afternoon, but as you will see that didn’t stop the party. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

The parade is in the centre of town and operates around the central island of the main street (Avenida da Costa Mealha) so there is plenty of room for visitors and some shade on a sunny day.

The costumes obviously involve hours of hard work & are very bright and colourful.

Fighting here is just for fun and like this one are often well choreographed to music.

The dancers give the carnival a real Brazilian samba feeling and the beat goes on…….

and on …

Locals often dress up and join in like these two little ‘monsters’!!

The young people take ‘face painting’ to the extreme, have great fun but are always polite and no trouble; I believe the paint throwing (at each other) happens elsewhere and before the event!

Some however choose to hide on a float!!

Or join the parade.

With a final thumbs up from the ‘Super Mario Brothers’, do pop along to the main parade in Loule at 3pm – it’s well worth the drive. Check out more photos below.

Please enjoy the rest of our shots in the gallery below – click on any photo to start the slideshow:

Thanks for looking! and see you next year!!