The 27th edition of the Fisherman's Festival took place in Albufeira, promoted by the Municipality of Albufeira, over three days, with the aim of recovering memories and traditions of the local fishing community. The program included the recreation of the arrival of vessels at Praia dos Pescadores, gastronomy, traditional games, folklore, and Portuguese music, seeking to reinforce the city's connection to its maritime roots.
A museum installed on the beach allowed the public to learn about instruments and practices associated with traditional fishing, while an exhibition of vessels included a boat built in the 1950s. Photographs by Artur Pastor documented the fishing past of Albufeira, and older fishermen shared testimonies of their lives linked to the sea, including net mending as knowledge passed down through generations.
On opening night, a video with interviews of fishermen and images of fishing activity was shown, followed by a speech by the mayor of Albufeira, Rui Cristina, who argued that tourism growth must not erase the memory and identity of the city. "We must be proud of our past, we must be aware of the present and very ambitious in our future," stated the mayor, who also gave public recognition to the founders of the Professional Fishing Association of Albufeira and the founder of the Folkloric Group of Albufeira.
On Saturday morning, September 5th, the trawlers returned to Praia dos Pescadores for a recreation of the arrival of the boats and the unloading of fish, recovering an image that for decades marked the life of the local community, when families waited on the beach for the vessels to return.
