Festivities of the Holy Crosses

The Festas das Santas Cruzes of Vila Nova de São Bento (Serpa) take place from 30 April to 4 May 2026. On Thursday there is the blessing of the Santas Cruzes, the opening of two exhibitions (the painting exhibition 'Santas Cruzes' by Andrew Smith and the photography exhibition 'Cruzes' by Xana Melão), a Eucharist at the Church of Saint Bento and the solemn procession in honour of Saint Bento to the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, followed by a dance with Mário Pica and DJ Dark at Largo da Igreja. On Friday and Saturday there is a dawn celebration, street entertainment with Orquestra Improvável, Bombos Alen'Ritmo, the brass band of the Bombeiros de Reguengos de Monsaraz and Fanfarra Bizarra, a craft market, daily prayer to the Holy Cross and a parade of choral folk groups; in the evening performances are given by Rockústico, Raya Evolution, KX Connections, Stereocante, Grupo Cruzeiro and XPTO, who is joined by Marisa Liz, with fireworks at midnight on Saturday, followed by Minibreak, DJ Sunlize and DJ Réu. On Sunday the procession takes Saint Bento to the Cruzeiro, where there is an open-air mass and a show by Toy Negro, and in the evening Hi-Fi, DAW and DJ Leo perform. On Monday the image returns in a motorcade to the Church of Saint Bento and the festivities end with a visit to the Santas Cruzes. According to Wikipedia, it is a local tradition to decorate homes with a stepped altar bearing the 'Santa Cruz' and to cover the procession route to the Cruzeiro with rosemary.