Chamusca is already experiencing one of the biggest festivals in the Ribatejo lezíria, the traditional Ascensão 2024, which will last until the 12th of May, with the promise of bringing thousands of visitors to the town.
Shows and concerts with big names in Portuguese music, gastronomy, snacks, showcooking, folklore, crafts, workshops, and an exhibition of producers and economic agents are some of the attractions of Ascensão, a festival rooted in the bullfighting world and Ribatejo traditions.
After Mickael Carreira inaugurated the main stage, Cape Verdean singer and composer Soraia Ramos followed on May 5th, Orquestra Típica Scalabitana on May 6th, Rita Rocha on May 7th, Carlão on the eve of Thursday of Ascensão, May 8th, Romana on May 9th, a municipal holiday, the GNR on May 10th, and Bárbara Tinoco on May 11th, and the party ends with a fado show “Chamusca Cantada”, the May 12th, with fado singers Manuel João Ferreira, João Chora, Rui Tanoeiro and Marisa Ferreira.
The maximum exponent of Ascension Week is the traditional bullfighting, on Ascension Thursday, May 9th, a municipal holiday, where the bulls run along the main artery of the town from Areal to the Centenary Praça de Toiros da Chamusca, in a A day that begins early with the traditional harvesting of corn in the region’s fields, followed by mass and the Blessing of the Goods of the Earth and Animals, next to the Main Church.
“Remember that in 2023, the village of Chamusca received more than 150 thousand visitors throughout the Ascensão fair, who came from the most diverse regions of the country to learn about the roots, culture and tradition of the village considered «Heart of Ribatejo » and to enjoy the most varied music and theater shows, folklore and sporting events, as well as the traditional gastronomy of the region, taverns, displays of crafts and regional products, wild festivals, equestrian or bullfighting activities, culture and especially tradition” , highlights a press release from Câmara da Chamusca.
Ascension Bullfighting Fair
The Ascensão Bullfighting Fair is one of the highlights, with two bullfights taking place on May 4th and May 9th, respectively Saturday (5pm) and Thursday of Ascensão (6pm).
On May 4th, the Centennial Bullring of Chamusca will be the stage for a Portuguese Bullfight, in which the Amateur Forcados Group of Aposento da Chamusca celebrates its 40th anniversary. To mark the date, former and current members of the GFAAP will catch six bulls from Ganadaria Canas Vigouroux. In the square will be the knights João Moura Caetano, Marcos Bastinhas and Miguel Moura.
On May 9th, the Centennial Bullring of Chamusca hosts the Traditional Mixed Bullfight of Thursday of Ascension. In the square will be the knights Francisco Palha, António Telles (son) and the matador António Ferreira. Taking part will be the two groups of forcados from the Municipality: the Grupo de Forcados Amadores da Chamusca and the Forcados Amateurs do Aposento da Chamusca. During the race, four bulls from Ganadaria Passanha will be handled on horseback and two bulls from the Murteira Grave cattle ranch will be handled on foot.
The Eng. Jorge Duque Trophy will also be awarded for the best handle and the Dr. João Duque Trophy for the Best Handle on Horseback. The Acensão Bullfighting Fair will be a party, conviviality and celebration, of figures and young values and with three postín ganadarias!
