Under the motto “Carnival is not a drought…”, the Algarve parade is “a more accessible, more popular way of raising awareness, even in a festive and festive atmosphere, about the drought and the problems that it can cause for all of us”, said the mayor of Loulé, Vítor Aleixo.

“It is a Carnival that, once again, focuses on environmental issues and has this particularity of turning serious issues into objects of fun. In other words, we are going to play with serious things”, stressed the president of that municipality in the district of Faro.

The problems of water shortages in the Algarve region inspire several floats, with emphasis on the one carrying the long-awaited desalination plant, “the contraption that will make water”, and another that deals with the proliferation of avocado trees, associated with excessive water consumption.

The satire extends to political and sporting circles, with cars dedicated to the upcoming presidential elections, featuring the figures of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Marques Mendes and Gouveia e Melo, and the presence of António Costa as the new strong man of the European Council.

The new president of the United States, Donald Trump, and his “anti-immigration measures” are the target in the car “in the country of the Trump”, while Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the parade dressed in the colours (yellow and blue) of the local club Campinense, the same as his current emblem, the Saudis Al Nassr.

In total, there are 15 floats and around 600 entertainers, with samba schools and animation groups, who will liven up the three parades, between March 2nd and 4th.

According to the mayor of Loulé, around 30,000 people are expected per day, the maximum capacity of the closed venue on Avenida José da Costa Mealha, in the city centre, with nine parking lots available for spectators.

“We expect a maximum turnout. This Carnival took more than two months to prepare, with very beautiful floats, and we have the legitimate expectation of having here the usual revellers who travel every year from the north and south of the country, and from abroad too”, said Vítor Aleixo.

The budget for the Loulé Carnival will be 470 thousand euros, a figure very similar to last year.

There is also a shop with around 400 costumes and fancy dress costumes available for temporary rental.

Tickets for the parades, which take place over the three days between 3pm and 6pm, cost two euros.

The proceeds will be donated to social causes and to groups of extras, who represent local communities. In 2024, the city government raised almost €50,000, which was allocated to four randomly selected philanthropic institutions and ten communities.