What to do in Porto in abril

Christmas lights still on through January 6 (Three Kings) — 94 illuminated streets and squares with 2.4 million LEDs and the 30 m tree at Praça General Humberto Delgado.

Carnival February 13-17 — Ovar (40 km south of Porto) sends out its 24 groups and floats, the country's most samba-driven and satirical carnival.

30th Porto Camellia Exhibition on March 7-8 at the Palácio da Bolsa — dozens of growers, the opera "A Traviata" and free admission beneath the building's neoclassical domes.

Queima das Fitas May 2-9 — the Cortejo Académico parades down Rua de Camões to Aliados on May 5 with thousands of students on allegorical floats wearing their faculty colors.

São João on the night of June 23-24 — Europe's biggest popular street party, plastic hammers on your head, grilled sardines, fireworks over the Douro and rabelo boats sailing past at dawn.

Driest month of the year — 20 mm rainfall and 25°C highs — beach season at Foz, Matosinhos and Praia Internacional under the Port of Leixões walls.

Porto's warmest and sunniest month — 25.7°C highs, Atlantic at 16-19°C off Matosinhos and most locals away on holiday.

Douro grape harvest kicks off around September 15 — barefoot stomping in granite lagares at quintas around Pinhão and Régua, 1 h 45 min by train from São Bento.

FIMP — Porto International Puppet Festival runs for 10 to 12 days — object theatre, digital performance and visual arts at Teatro Helena Sá e Costa and other venues.

EDP Porto Marathon on November 8 — 22nd edition from Castelo do Queijo, crossing Ribeira, the Dom Luís I bridge and the Gaia wine caves.

Christmas markets and Time Out Market Porto from November 29 through January 5 — Praça da Batalha, Cordoaria with Santa's house and the Bolhão Market's traditional "Cascata Comunitária de São João" display.