Monaco’s Portuguese association celebrate in Roquebrune Sunday

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This Sunday, the Association Folklorique des Portugais de Monaco (AFPM) will be celebrating its 21st anniversary in Roquebrune Village in the presence of the mayor of Roquebrune. Open to the public, the family-friendly festivities start at 2 pm.

Founded on February 16, 1996, by Monaco-resident Jose Da Costa along with a group of friends, the mission of the AFPM is to preserve and share Portuguese folkloric tradition. The association boasts a membership of some 40 people specialising in Portuguese folkloric dance and music.

Following Sunday’s celebration, the AFPM will host the 20th International Folklore Festival at the Esplanade Jean Gioan in Roquebrune Cap Martin on the June 3-4 weekend. An evening concert and dancing on Saturday will be followed on Sunday by a traditional Portuguese Folkloric commemoration. In true Portuguese fashion, there will be plenty of typical dishes – Feijoada, beignets de morue, Frango asado, rissois – to sample over the two days.

Well-known folklore groups from Switzerland, Portugal and Clermont-Ferrand will attend the June festival, which last year welcomed around 2,000 attendees.

In addition to other gatherings around Monaco in 2017, the AFPM has been invited to Corsica, Paris and Portugal to participate in various events.

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Special Olympics Monaco benefit concert Saturday with OPMC

A benefit concert in support of Special Olympics Monaco, an organisation under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert that provides opportunities for adults and children with intellectual disabilities to practice sport, takes place Saturday at 8:30 pm.

Philippe Bender will conduct the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPMC), with guest pianist Francois-Réné Duchable, in the fundraising performance at Auditorium Rainier III.

This evening’s program includes Liszt’s Piano Concerto No 1 and Les Préludes, as well as Weber’s Konzertstück in F Minor.

Tickets (€20 and €30) are available from the Monte Carlo Casino box office or online.

Founded in the early Eighties, Special Olympics Monaco counts more than 70 athletes who represent the Monegasque delegation throughout the world, including at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria next month from March 14-25.

A passionate advocate of the Special Olympics movement, HSH Princess Charlene became the Special Olympics Monaco Honorary President in 2012.

Article first published February 18, 2017.