During our orientation, our program directors told us that June was the best month of the year to be in Lisbon. You get to enjoy  the amazing weather, beautiful beaches, and most importantly, the major festivals. Portugal is divided into different districts, and each district has its own patron saint. In Lisbon, that saint is Saint Anthony, and the entire month of June, especially leading up to the festival on June 13th, turns into one giant party.

We were lucky enough to live right next to Campo Pequeno, a large bullfighting ring that was transformed into a festival area with an outdoor stage, food trucks, games, and events throughout the month. Almost every day on my way to the metro station, I would walk past the festival and there was always something going on. One thing I quickly learned about Portugal is that the country truly comes alive at night. After work, people would gather in the streets to eat, dance, and celebrate, and even after we went home, we could still hear the music playing late into the night.

The night before June 13th was supposed to be the biggest celebration, so naturally, all of us spent way too much time getting ready before heading out after work. We originally wanted to go to Alfama, the historic neighborhood known for having one of the biggest street parties, but since we were still relatively new to Lisbon and worried about getting separated or losing our things in the crowds, we decided to go to the neighborhood right above it, Graça.

It was less crowded, but barely. The streets were still packed with people, and within minutes we somehow managed to get separated and spent the night running into each other every once in a while. Every few feet there was a DJ, street performer, or food stand, and the roads were completely blocked off by crowds of people singing and dancing. There were people of all ages everywhere, from young students to families and older locals who had been celebrating this tradition for years.

Eventually, we found a DJ with strobe lights and a great playlist, and that became our spot for the night. The eight people we arrived with turned into a much larger group as more friends kept cycling through. I ended up meeting people from Portugal, Australia, and the UK, and we spent the night dancing together, singing made-up lyrics to songs we barely knew, and laughing over the fact that we were all somehow having the same experience despite coming from completely different places.

Lisbon even extended the metro hours that night from 1 AM to 3 AM so people could continue celebrating. I did not make it home until almost 4 in the morning, and somehow had to wake up at 7 AM the next day for a boat tour organized by my program. My shoes were absolutely disgusting from walking through the streets all night, and I was exhausted, but I had zero regrets. That night will always be one of my greatest memories of my life.

I was also lucky enough to experience another patron saint festival in July in Coimbra. While it was a different type of celebration, it was just as memorable. Instead of a street party, there was a huge carnival with rides, games, and food. My favorite part was going on a 360-degree pendulum ride with two other people and convincing ourselves that it was a good idea. Our program directors came with us, and it was such a fun way to spend time together, especially because it was our last field trip with them and one of the last times we would all be together.

If you ever visit Portugal, I highly recommend going in June. It is the perfect time to experience the country’s culture firsthand and see their true spirit: loudly, joyfully, and with a lot of dancing.