This Ribatejo horse fair goes back to 1571. Edition 50 runs from 6 to 15 November
The Feira Nacional do Cavalo in Golegã reaches its 50th edition under a new name, Caixa Golegã Feira Nacional do Cavalo, from 6 to 15 November, alongside the 27th International Lusitano Horse Fair and the São Martinho fair. The pilgrims' procession is on 11 November.
Golegã fills up with horses, wide-brimmed hats and the smell of roasting chestnuts from 6 to 15 November. It’s the 50th Feira Nacional do Cavalo, Portugal’s national horse fair, and it arrives with a new name: Caixa Golegã Feira Nacional do Cavalo, after a partnership with state bank Caixa Geral de Depósitos, which turns 150 this year.
Running at the same time are the 27th International Lusitano Horse Fair and the São Martinho fair, which is where it all started. The dates are listed by Golegã’s tourism office, and the programme is being posted on the fair’s official site.
Older than it looks
The São Martinho fair has records going back to 1571. The “national horse fair” name only arrived in 1972, and that’s the count now reaching 50. This year the fair was entered in Portugal’s national inventory of intangible cultural heritage, a first step for locals who’d like to see it on UNESCO’s list one day.
This year’s poster is by António Imaginário, based on a photograph by Rita Fernandes, who won the council’s competition for it.
What you’ll see
Everything revolves around the Largo do Arneiro, where riders in traditional Ribatejo dress circle the arena as the light goes. There’s carriage driving, working equitation, Lusitano breed shows and competitions, plus plenty of regional food in the stalls and taverns around the square.
The big day is 11 November, São Martinho’s day, with the pilgrims’ procession and a blessing in front of the parish church. If you can only make one day, make it that one.
Go early, or go midweek
The fair usually draws close to a million visitors over its ten days, and last year around 3,000 horses turned up despite the bad weather. Weekends are the busiest, so if you’re flexible, a weekday visit is the smarter call.
For something closer to hand this weekend, try our guide to 24 and 25 October. Golegã can go in the diary for a fortnight from now.
Image: Waugsberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
