Angra do Heroísmo’s Christmas program kicks off on Friday and runs until January 10, with cultural, festive, and family activities associated with this traditional season. The program was presented yesterday by the Angra do Heroísmo City Council and the Angra do Heroísmo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

According to the municipality, this year’s Christmas celebrations start a week early, “to boost local trade and extend the Christmas season in the city center.”

“Christmas is a time for gathering and community, and this year Angra offers a program that brings families, visitors, and residents together in a unique environment. We want everyone to find reasons to come to the city, experience this special season, and at the same time, value and support our traditional commerce, which is essential to the vitality of our historic center,” said the vice president of the Angra do Heroísmo City Council, Guido Teles, quoted in a press release.

Among the new features are the return of the Circus to the Angra do Heroísmo Cultural and Congress Center, the presentation of the new Choir of the Social Centers, and Christmas decoration demonstrations. The program also returns to a diverse musical agenda, with concerts of various styles designed for different audiences.

Praça Velha will once again be transformed into the Christmas Village, where various cultural, social, and sports institutions and associations will occupy the traditional stalls with snacks, crafts, and bazaars. The program also includes book launches, film screenings, children’s stories, workshops, exhibitions, show cooking, and many other initiatives that promise to enliven the historic center over several weeks.

The “Angra Prendas Mil” initiative is also back, once again mobilizing local businesses, with a final prize draw of €6,500. The full program for “Natal em Angra 2025” is available at angradoheroismo.pt.

In Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.