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Summer in Portugal is also festival and concert season, from north to south, there's live music outdoors almost every week. But for parents, the first question is rarely "which festival?": it's "who looks after the children?". The good news is that, with a little planning and the right help, it's perfectly possible to have a night to yourselves again, without guilt and without worry.
The festival and concert season in Portugal
The season runs roughly from late May to September, with something for every taste: from the big stages of Lisbon and Porto to the beach festivals of the Algarve and Caparica, and the nature settings of the interior and the north. There's pop and rock, electronic music, world music and jazz, as well as countless standalone concerts in arenas and venues.
As dates and line-ups change from year to year, and sometimes during the season itself, it's always worth checking the information on each event's official website before planning your evening.
How do you organise a festival night when you have children?
The difference between a relaxed night and a stressful one lies almost entirely in the preparation. A few simple steps:
Decide early who will look after the children — a family member, a trusted babysitter or a specialist service.
Check the event's real timings, including the likely time you'll get home (festivals tend to finish late).
Think about transport logistics, especially if there's traffic or restricted parking.
Keep the children's routine as normal as possible, so your absence feels like just another calm evening.
Why is it worth booking a babysitter in advance?
In summer, and especially on the nights and weekends of big events, demand for babysitters soars. Booking early gives you two important advantages: it secures availability for the date you need, and, where possible, it lets you rely on the same trusted person, which brings more security and comfort to the children.
At Baby Sisters, our occasional babysitting service was designed precisely for these moments, a concert night, a dinner, an event, with experienced, trusted professionals.
What should you leave ready for the babysitter?
So that everything runs smoothly in your absence, leave the essential information to hand:
The evening routine: dinner, bath and bedtime.
Meals and any allergies or dietary restrictions.
Emergency contacts and the number where you can be reached.
Where you'll be and the likely time you'll be home.
Habits and comforts that help the child fall asleep (the soft toy, the night light, the usual story).
And the festivals you'd like to bring the children to?
Not every event is just for adults. There are festivals and concerts with family programming, free-entry days and daytime hours, designed to welcome younger guests too. In those cases, rather than a babysitter to stay at home, it may make more sense to have support that accompanies and entertains the children during the event.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a babysitter just for one night or for an event? Yes. The occasional babysitting service is designed for exactly that, a night, a dinner or an event, with the flexibility your schedule needs.
How far in advance should I book a babysitter in summer? The earlier the better. In summer, and especially on the nights of big festivals and concerts, demand is high, so booking in advance helps secure availability.
What should I leave for the babysitter? The evening routine (dinner, bath, bedtime), any allergies or dietary restrictions, emergency contacts, where you'll be and the likely time you'll be home, and the habits that help your child fall asleep.
Are there summer festivals to go to with children? Yes. Several festivals and concerts have family programming, free days and daytime hours, suitable for younger guests too.