It’s from the 14th to the 16th of July that Lourinhã celebrates the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Vimeiro. The initiative, which is carried out in partnership with Vimeiro Parish, the Association for the Memory of the Battle of Vimeiro and the Portuguese Napoleonic Association, will feature activities for all ages.

This year the event theme will be From War to Peace, looking to show the importance of understanding History in order to build a path to peace and cooperation, with the presence of historic re-enactors from nations at war with each other in the past, united today under the values of peace and cultural exchange. The event is located right next to the Battle of Vimeiro Interpretation Centre (CIBV), in a space designed to look the time period, with lots of street performance, concerts, arts & crafts and professions representative of the period.


The program begins at 7pm on July 14th with a theatre piece called “King John IV and Peace”, by artist Ana Rosa Abreu, which is followed by the musical piece “From War to Peace” by Ensemble Vocal Introitus. At 10pm, the 18th Century Ball will occur, with performances from the historic dances group of the Association for the Memory of the Battle of Vimeiro. The ball will be accompanied and followed by Ahkorda, a trad/folk group, who will play on the Wellington Stage at 11pm. The day ends with the fire show Solstice, by the Anymamundy group.

On the 15th, at 11am, there’ll be a guided tour of Vimeiro that visits locations associated to the battle. Lessons about Military Life at the Military Camp is a historical re-enactment taking place at 3pm. Beyond the many activities for kids and families in the CIBV, there’ll be a dance workshop at 4pm, an act by Folklore Choir “The Fishermen of Ribamar” at 5:30pm, and the documentary “The Making of Wellington: The Battle of Vimeiro” will be shown at the CIBV at 6:30pm, as well as 6pm on the 16th. The day will close with the Historical Recreation of the Battle of Vimeiro, with participation of historical re-enactment groups from in and out the country, on the battlefield at 10pm.

On Sunday the 16th, the historical re-enactment will continue with skirmishes being played out throughout the streets of Vimeiro at 11am, and the Siege of the Church at 11:30am. At 2:30pm, the Portugal Simulation Games Association will offer an activity called “Napoleonic Combat and Tactics Simulator,” and at 3:30pm the Lessons About Military Life at Military Camp will return. At 4:30pm there’ll be a concert with the Adufe e Aguildar group and the Lourinhã Municipal Choir on the Wellington Stage.

The event ends at 8:30pm, after the Flag Lowering Ceremony, following a musket salvo.

Author

Star in the 2015 music video for the hit single “Headlights” by German musician, DJ and record producer Robin Schulz featuring American singer-songwriter Ilsey. Also a journalist.

Jay Bodsworth