“Never before has there been an Easter in Coimbra with such diverse elements,” stated Francisco Veiga, the vice-president of the Coimbra City Council, during the event presentation.
The street music festival “Baixa o Som” will enliven the city’s streets, with its first phase coinciding with the Easter program on April 18 and 19, followed by a second phase from June 6 to 8, marking the debut of this expanded format.
The two-stage program will feature eight street bands and three philharmonic groups performing in areas such as Alta, Baixa, Santa Clara, and the docks along the Mondego River, as highlighted by Adriano Franco, the artistic director of “Baixa o Som.”
The audience will be treated to diverse genres, including pop, funk, rock, jazz, disco, metal, and for the first time, medieval music and the use of unconventional instruments.
During the Easter period, the “Strike up the Bands” event will offer itinerant entertainment in Baixa, a pedagogical training project for young people called “Ensemble Baixa o Som Kids,” and performances by Brass Freakers and Jabardixie on April 18 and 19.
In its second phase from June 6 to 8, the festival will revert to its “conventional format,” featuring daytime itinerant performances, evening concerts, and a closing parade.
Highlights of the second stage include performances by Crassh, Jograis del Rei, Supertronik Bootleg, Coimbrass Band, Dixie Gringos Jazz Band, and a show by the Postcard Brass Band, with a special appearance by the dance group Swing Dance & Lindy Hop.
The “Coimbra Doce” event will transform Terreiro da Erva in the city center with a tent offering face painting, workshops, an egg hunt, inflatables, and a children’s carousel, while outside a larger carousel will be available.
Additional festivities will extend to Praça do Comércio with Easter-themed decorations.
Commencing on Friday and running until April 20, the activities, carousels, and inflatables will have an entry fee of three euros per child, as noted by Dina Maia from Vertente Versátil, the company organizing the “Coimbra Doce” event.
The program also includes religious aspects with the “Semana Santa de Coimbra” from April 13 to 21, and musical, traditional, and visitation events in the “Sabores e Sons da Páscoa” program, running from April 16 to 26.
Among the scheduled activities is the Feira do Folar e da Arrufada de Coimbra at Pátio da Inquisição on April 19, featuring 15 stalls and professionals specializing in Easter cakes and related products.
José Manuel Silva, the president of the City Council, emphasized the ambition for Coimbra to be recognized as a city of numerous, diverse, and high-quality events that not only attract visitors but also offer varied family-oriented recreational and social options.
Such events, including the Easter celebrations, play a pivotal role in promoting and projecting Coimbra’s name far and wide, with various cultural activities attracting more individuals to the city.
The Municipality allocated 58,000 euros for the Easter program’s execution.
