Sent at 2016-01-18 | Current

Next June, Ribeira Grande celebrates its 35th anniversary as a city, and to mark the occasion, City Council has prepared an extensive cultural programme which extends throughout the entire year in order to vitalise the city and the municipality.

The cultural programme for 2016 was presented today at City Hall, in a ceremony where Mayor Alexandre Gaudêncio highlighted the importance of cultural investments for the municipality.

“The events we have planned are intended to stimulate the local economy as much as possible, because it is this vibrancy that creates more jobs," said the mayor, who also stated that "the cultural vibrancy we have been creating in Ribeira Grande has caught the interest of entrepreneurs looking to make investments."

Alexandre Gaudêncio further declared that, in order to “promote the events that will be held in Ribeira Grande throughout 2016, the municipality will be present at BTL - Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa (Lisbon International Tourism Exhibition) for the first time, with its own dedicated stand. It is our expectation that the visibility achieved at BTL will bring more investment."

The 2016 cultural programme focuses on "events targeting various age groups" and kicks off in February, with the traditional Cantar às Estrelas music competition, which a record number of groups have already entered. “Over 40 groups have already entered and the deadline for entries is only on Friday, which leads us to believe that this number will continue to grow,” the mayor added.

Also starting in February and until March, we will have the MOVE Ribeira Grande, a winter festival that includes everything from music and dancing to sports and theatrical performances. “This is a festival that will brighten up the so-called low season," declared Alexandre Gaudêncio.

Another new event is the MTV Spring Break (April 2), which will be held three weeks before another edition of the Flower Festival (April 22 to 24), one of Ribeira Grande's anchor events, as is the São Pedro parade (June 28), this year in celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Cavalhadas de São Pedro (horse parade) (29 June) or the Festa do Comércio (Trade Festival), which this year, will incorporate the Sensations Festival, an event that appeals to all senses.

Another landmark event in Ribeira Grande is the 15th Century Fair (July 21 to 24), the culmination of a very exciting month of July, which includes the hot-air balloon festival (July 13 to 17) and the second annual RFM festival (July 30).

Still on the topic of music, Monte Verde is also a festival that needs no introduction, this year commemorating its fifth anniversary, with the promise of surprises. For those who like tradition, the international folklore festival of Porto Formoso (August 6) is an event not to be missed.

In sports, Ribeira Grande continues to assert itself as a stage for multiple events and this year marks the return of the Ponta Delgada/Ribeira Grande half-marathon (March 6), the third annual Colour Fun (June 11) and, of course, another stage of the surfing world championship tour (September 6 to 13). Highlight also to the Eco Trail Run (June 19).

“This programming is in line with the recommendations of the Ribeira Grande Strategic Plan for Tourism," said Alexandre Gaudêncio, the mayor, who also announced that the municipality will "quantify the financial return brought by the events.”

In addition to these events, the finishing touches are being put on the programming of the Ribeiragrandense Theatre, which is being revitalised by means of a variety of performances not seen at the venue since the year of its reopening.