Summary:
São Jacinto, a quaint town on Portugal's central coast, transforms into a vibrant hub during the annual Dunas Festival each August. This event features international beach sports, sustainable living workshops, and performances by top musicians. Visitors can enjoy local delicacies, environmental activities, and an airshow, all while celebrating the area's unique natural beauty and community spirit. Accessible by ferry, the festival emphasizes sustainability and attracts a diverse crowd from near and far.
For most of the year, tiny São Jacinto (population: ~ 700 year-round residents) is easily and without exaggeration one of the quaintest spots you can pick on Portugal's central coast to simply relax.
How, then, do visitors to the Aveiro region find out about Aveiro's "hidden gem" for the first time?
For many, it's during the three days each August when the party is on. I mean, it's ON.
Think international beach sport competition. E-bike test driving. Workshops on sustainable living and protecting the fragile Ria environment. Musical entertainment by top performers along the Ria promenade, lightshow and large-scale projections, airshow with fly-in and aerobatic performances, tasty regional foods - the works.
Did I mention the food?
So, mark your calendar for this year's edition of the Festival Dunas de São Jacinto from August 22nd to 24th . True to its tradition, it's a celebration of nature, music, and Ria culture and community, on São Jacinto Beach and the squares and stages at the São Jacinto waterfront overlooking the Ria de Aveiro.
The Draw of the Dunas Festival
One highlight of the Dunas Festival 2025 is the return of the Aveiro Air Show. On the afternoon of August 23rd, visitors get treated to aerobatic maneuvers over São Jacinto Bay. On Sunday, the 24th, another highlight will be the Fly-in Dunas 2025, the largest meeting of ultralight aircraft in Portugal.
The concert lineup this year includes Gisela João (August 22nd), Ana Bacalhau (August 23rd) and David Fonseca (August 24th). They perform at Praça Carlos Roeder, starting at 22:00 (10 pm) on the first two days and at 18:00 (6:00 pm) on the closing day.
At the end of each festival day filled with fun for all age groups on the Praia de São Jacinto, Aveiro's Blue Flag-awarded beach (20 years in a row this year!), the Dunas Festival lets visitors soak in the natural beauty of the Ria while dancing to the beats of their favorite headliners in the evening.
And when the bands take a break, you can hear the Ria waves lapping against the Cais dos Pescadores, with the city lights of downtown Aveiro glistening in the distance, on the far side of the lagoon.
"Worlds away, next door", if you will, to quote the inofficial slogan. Did I mention it takes only a fast ride on Aveiro's fast electric ferry to get you here? Okay, give or take a few days in the winter season. And yes, we're working on that, thank you for asking.
The Dunas Festival is your opportunity to celebrate summer with fellow visitors, friends and family, while appreciating São Jacinto's unique setting and location.
Learn About Local Crafts and Taste Delicacies from Around the Ria
Music is just one part of the festival. During the festival days, you can also try your balance and arm muscles at canoing, attend a beach frisbee tournament, or get surfing instruction. Environmental workshops await, as do art installations, and if all of that made you hungry, stroll along the Ria and discover a new food stall or two.
Getting There
From Aveiro, São Jacinto is easily accessible by ferry from the Forte da Barra ferry terminal. Leave your car at home or at the hotel or local accommodation, or drop it off at one of the designated free parking zones in Forte da Barra. Once you've arrived in São Jacinto, there will be a free electric shuttle bus connecting the area near the São Jacinto Ria promenade with the Praia de São Jacinto.
Rule of thumb: the free parking lot closest to the ferry terminal in Forte da Barra will be full early. To avoid a long walk in the summer heat, opting for a car-free day and taking public transport (bus to the ferry and back) is highly recommended.
Plan your trip in advance to avoid last-minute hassles.
What to Bring, What Not To Leave
Travel light and smart. Bring essentials like sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable shoes.
The festival promotes sustainability. The community of São Jacinto depends on it - we all do. So please use the available trash bins, designated recycling containers, and ash trays to get rid of food wrappings and cigarette butts. Minimize plastic use and designated. Respect the Ria -- let's keep protecting it together.
With each year, the São Jacinto Dunas Festival attracts more and more visitors from the Aveiro region, Portugal, and from around the world. Whether you're a Dunas Festival "veteran" or a first-time - you'll find something you'll enjoy
See you at the Festival Dunas de São Jacintos!
Alex Alves
Alex writes about travel, technology, and business.
