In a year when Portuguese citizens are called to the polls on two separate occasions — legislative and municipal elections — the celebration of the Carnation Revolution takes on renewed significance. It is in this context that various entities from Faro’s associative, social, and cultural fabric come together to assert, with conviction: 25th of April belongs to us too.

The 1974 Revolution, the foremost symbol of freedom and democracy in Portugal, has gradually become institutionalised. As a result, some feel that its essence has drifted away from those who need it most. This year, there is a desire to reclaim that spirit — giving April back to all of us, equally.

Under the roof of the Associação Recreativa e Cultural dos Músicos de Faro (ARCM), and coordinated by WallRide, CapitalOne, and Contextos, the programme will run throughout 25 April 2025, in an event that fosters encounters, debate, and the celebration of diversity, the arts, civic participation, and democratic resistance.

The initiative is based on the premise that the concept of a majority is made up of many minorities: young people, Afro-descendants, Romani people, the LGBTQI+ community, migrants, and populations facing socio-economic vulnerability — and all those who actively contribute to a fairer, freer, and more democratic society.

According to Viriato Villas-Boas, President of WallRide, Director of Institutional Relations at CapitalOne, and one of the event’s key driving forces, “the idea arose from a blend of influences that naturally came together. On the one hand, Billy Fresh was planning a series of concerts for 25 April; WallRide, the day before, is organising the opening of the Marmotto festival by Sciaena; ARCM has a new board, eager to reactivate the Association; Contextos runs projects in the fields of democracy and European identity which fuel debate… And everything started to fall into place.”

In his view, this union reflects the urgent need to recover the true spirit of April: “In my restlessness, it seemed vital to bring together the most diverse movements that truly represent the genuine values of April — not the institutional and formal values, which are often ideologically distorted.”

“Whether as a child of April and son of an April Captain or as someone raised within Algarve’s associative movement who now works in that same field, I see an enormous urgency in overcoming the impulses and challenges that divide us — whether we are institutions or individuals. We live in a reality where political extremes profit from promoting artificial social and human divisions. The truth — as illustrated by the solidarity and united front of all the institutions and individuals represented here — is that if so-called ‘minorities’ unite, they become a majority. If disadvantaged people become aware and mobilise to vote as a bloc, together with ethnic-racial and gender minorities, as well as working-class citizens, all these groups gain real and tangible power to determine who occupies decision-making positions — whether in a town hall or in parliament.”

Programme

14:00 – Doors open

14:30 – 15:30 – Panel 1: "Blue Drinks" by Sciaena – Democracy and ocean sustainability

15:45 – 16:45 – Panel 2: "Democracy: Then and Now – What Has Changed and What Remains?" by Contextos

17:00 – 18:00 – Panel 3: "Democracy at Risk – What Can We Learn from History?" by Contextos

18:15 – 19:15 – Panel 4: "Resistance and Action – How Do We Defend Democracy Today?" by Contextos

19:30 – End of debates and social gathering

20:00 – 21:45 – Film screening by Cineclube de Faro

22:00 – 00:00 – Live Hip-Hop Acts by CapitalOne
Confirmed artists: Billy Fesh · Real Punch · GrandMaster Dre · RAGZ · Fulha-WT · Anymal Racional · Faxica · DJ Varela · AK-C1 · Pânico · Anthrax 87 · Mary Jane · Ilviator · Tehjah10 · 3MA

00:00 – 02:00 – DJ Set by ARCM – DJ Kitxora

Live graffiti performance by artist SEN, by Artitude Urbana

Food and drinks available throughout the day

Partner Entities
ARCM – Associação Recreativa e Cultural dos Músicos de Faro
WallRide
CapitalOne
Contextos
Centro de Vida Independente
Rede 8 de Março
Centro Comunitário da Horta da Areia
FADA – Frente Anti-Discriminação Algarve
Cineclube de Faro
Europe Direct Algarve
AAUALG – Associação Académica da Universidade do Algarve
Associação A3
Artitude Urbana
Mudaki E9G/Doina
USAL/CGTP-IN – União dos Sindicatos do Algarve / Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses – Intersindical Nacional
Sciaena
Transparente
CPPC – Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation