March Unveils a Cultural Extravaganza in Lisbon's Metropolitan Area!

March is Here with a Cultural Bonanza in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

The third month of the year has arrived, bringing with it a plethora of cultural suggestions to make the most of the longer days and milder weather across the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML). In addition to Carnival celebrations, there's a rich variety of cinema, music, theater, and exhibitions across all 18 municipalities of AML.

This March, AML showcases numerous cultural offerings, including music, theater, cinema, exhibitions, and activities for kids, alongside the festive Carnival. During the first weekend, municipalities like Loures, Cascais, Sesimbra, and Barreiro feature various Carnival events, notably the Carnaval Saloio de Loures, highlighted by a parade with over 2600 participants on the afternoons of March 2 and 4. For those wishing to skip the Carnival festivities, alternatives include “A Purga do Bebé” by the Teatro da Terra at the Fórum Cultural do Seixal, and “Picasso agarrado ao rabo” in Almada for the younger audience.

In Sintra, the Festival Espontâneo dedicated to improvisation will take place, while Odivelas will celebrate the ‘Month of Theater’, featuring performances from various local theater groups. Throughout the month, the Fernando Piteira Santos Municipal Library in Amadora will host initiatives for all ages, including Story Hours followed by workshops, Story Dramatizations, and guided tours of the Bedeteca. On March 18, primary school children can look forward to the presentation of “Magia e Natureza – O meu livro de histórias” by Matilde Oliveira, with a Financial Literacy session on March 19 for students in the 2nd and 3rd cycles.

Theater and Cinema Highlights

Students from Externato D. João VI will perform a dramatization of “A princesa dos Bijagós” by Alexandre Faria on March 25, aimed at primary school students and free for all. Additionally, “Family Saturdays” will return on March 1, 8, and 22, along with literary gatherings on March 4 and 17, and the intergenerational project “Acordar para o Teatro” on March 12 and 26. On March 18, the book “A parentalidade Começa em Nós” by Inês Marques will be presented, while the Rogério Rodrigues Auditorium will host the new exhibition “Do Papel à Tela – Contos de Christian Andersen pintados por Norberto Nunes”, inaugurated at 6:30 PM on March 29.

In March, the Amadora Compassiva movement will promote two initiatives tackling the theme of death candidly, honoring life on March 8 with “Morrer é só não ser visto”, and a discussion on “Advance Directives” with Dr. António Folgado on March 21. For cinema lovers, Palmela will feature the “Olhares do Mediterrâneo” showcase, while Montijo will screen “Listen”, a film by Ana Rocha, at the Cinema-Teatro Joaquim D’Almeida. The National Youth Day celebrations will commence on March 1 in Odivelas, and the Festival Espontâneo continues in Sintra.

Exhibitions and Local Gastronomy

If music is your preference, don’t miss the Experimentáculo by Margaux Gazur in Setúbal, and Josy Feijó’s concert in Odivelas. Upcoming exhibitions include Júlio Mira at the Augusto Cabrita Exhibition Gallery in Seixal, “apneia”, the paintings of Paula Rito in Montijo, “Únicos e Especiais” in Barreiro, “Matéria Vibrante” in Almada, “All Colors. Guida Ottolini (1915-1992): An Illustrator from the Brush Tribe”, and “Amadora, First Municipality of April” in Amadora, along with “Filhos do Meio – Hip Hop à Margem” in Almada. Finally, food enthusiasts can explore local flavors on March 2 with the “March, Month of the Sável” initiative in Vila Franca de Xira.