The event, organized by the Santiago do Cacém Municipal Council, is once again betting on "a strong musical line-up" with the aim of attracting "a younger audience" to the Fair and Exhibition Park and trying to exceed last year's number of visitors.

"The line-up is obviously what has the greatest [financial] weight at the fair and is the main factor in attracting people to the fair", highlighted today the Mayor of Santiago do Cacém, Álvaro Beijinha.

According to the mayor, who was speaking during the press conference for the presentation of the 36th edition of Santiagro, which took place at a cork company in the parish of Cercal do Alentejo, the focus on "a line-up that is very focused on young people" ensures that the event is visited by parents and children.

"Some of these artists manage to attract a very young audience who, naturally, cannot come alone and have to bring their parents" to the event, he stressed.

With this focus, the mayor expects "between 45 and 50 thousand visitors" during the four days of the agricultural fair which, this year, has a budget of 267 thousand euros, "2.5% more" than in 2023.

"It is an effort that the municipality is making, but I believe that it is a good investment, since these major events have a very significant impact on the local economy", he said.

A few days before the start of another edition, Álvaro Beijinha highlighted that this "was the year with the greatest demand" for spaces in the venue that will feature "more than 200 exhibitors" linked to various activities of the local and regional economy.

"It is a fair with an agricultural and rural matrix that has been growing in recent years and this was one of the years with the greatest demand for exhibitors", being "completely full", he said.

During the event, the future of rice will be debated, in a colloquium organized by Caixa Agrícola da Costa Azul, on the 31st, which will focus on research, science and innovation, production and new agricultural practices, the water issue and the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC).

Livestock, forestry and horses will also be highlighted over the four days, with baptisms, equestrian galas and gymkhanas, donkey and pony rides, and sheep shearing demonstrations.

Santiagro also features a permanent exhibition of equines, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.

The program for the four days of the agricultural fair will include, in addition to the exhibition sector, 'showcooks', demonstrations of the art of cooking, 'workshops', the largest mobile aquarium in Europe for children, wine and gin tastings, motorized 'tuk-tuk' rides, goat milking and bullfights.

The musical line-up also includes performances by DJ Dadão (May 30), Kura and Zanova (31), Kevu and the show 'Smells Like 90's, on June 1.

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