The vibrant municipality of São Filipe, on the island of Fogo, is preparing to host one of Cape Verde’s most iconic cultural festivals, as celebrations for the municipality and flag begin this Saturday, April 19.
This year’s edition promises to be broader, more inclusive, and longer-lasting than ever before.
According to São Filipe’s mayor, Nuías Silva, the 2025 festivities will run through May 1 and aim to establish themselves as “a true meeting point between culture, local development, and the diaspora.”
“The São Filipe festivities continue to stand out as one of the country’s largest traditional and folkloric events and a rapidly growing tourist attraction.
We’re extending the calendar, which allows us to boost the local economy over a longer period,” Silva said.
Although the celebrations are traditionally held from April 25, this year they will begin earlier and include two main stages—Presídio and Alto São Pedro—both featuring an expanded cultural and musical offering.
Mayor Silva noted that despite being only three months into the current term, groundwork for this year’s festivities was laid at the end of the previous year.
He also confirmed that preparations are progressing smoothly.
The arrival of emigrants began in early April, with a noticeable increase in visitors from April 15.
To accommodate the surge in travel, Cabo Verde Interilhas and TACV have already enhanced their maritime and air transport connections.
In addition to traditional games and a swimming competition that started on April 13, this Saturday will feature a youth football tournament for under-12s and the second edition of the “Hawaiian Beach Party” at Nossa Senhora da Encarnação beach—one of the event’s standout cultural attractions.
Other major highlights include the Miss 40 Mais Unique pageant, the White Night, the “I Love Fogo” event, and four nights of dance at the Presídio square, the epicentre of São Filipe’s cultural life.
Speaking on behalf of Fogo Entertainment, the company responsible for curating the entertainment program, Paulo Brandão, better known as DJ2, said this year’s musical lineup would be shorter but of higher quality, featuring around four acts per night.
To make the festivities more accessible, the municipality is also installing a second stage in Alto São Pedro from April 27 to 30.
This venue will feature music for children, youth, and adults unable to attend the main Presídio stage in the evenings.
“We want everyone to have access to the celebration,” said culture councillor Lia Barbosa, who added that, as in previous years, the secondary stage will be animated by local artists, including Filipe Pereira, also known as “Bidonga.”
Source: balai
