Porto’s merchants’ association said on Tuesday that at least 94 streets in the city would be decorated with Christmas lights and that the traditional tree on Avenida dos Aliados would be at least 30 metres high.
On September 26, the Porto Merchants Association launched an international public tender for the rental of decorative lighting, electrical equipment and the Christmas tree, with a base price of 520 thousand euros (plus VAT), 60 thousand euros more than last year.
In an interview with Lusa, the president of the Porto Merchants Association, Rubens de Carvalho, clarified that the open tender intends to cover at least 94 streets in the city, which is three more than in 2023.
The number of streets with lighting is growing every year, and in 2020 only 83 were covered.
According to him, the number of motifs used in lighting has increased from 846 to 876.
Like the number of streets lit up, the number of motifs used has also increased since 2020, when a total of 588 were used.
Rubens de Carvalho also said that the Christmas tree will be at least equal to or larger than the one installed last year, which was 30 meters high and 15 meters in diameter.
The traditional Christmas tree on Avenida dos Aliados will be joined by 13 small and three medium trees that will be distributed throughout the city.
The president of the Porto Merchants Association explained to Luce that the open tender is aimed at minimum volumes, and that the “final volumes” of Christmas lighting and decorations are expected to be higher.
According to the announcement of the procedure published in Diário da República, interested parties must submit proposals by September 21 and keep them for 66 days.
Tender specifications reviewed by Lusa stipulate that at least 75% of the lighting must be LED.
Officially, the lights should be turned on from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on December 1, the document says.
Lighting must be on from Sunday to Thursday from 17:30 to 23:00, and on Friday, Saturday and the eve of holidays from 17:30 to 12:00.
According to the technical specifications, dismantling of the structures should begin on January 7 and be completed by February 1.
On June 25, the Executive unanimously approved the support of the Porto Merchants Association for the 2024 Christmas lighting, with financial support of up to 700 thousand euros.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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