Category: Events in Goa

Events in Goa

Child’s Play India Foundation Unites Young Voices and Orchestras in Festive Musical Evening

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Child’s Play India Foundation, in association with Clube Harmonia de Margao, organised Prelude to Christmas, a musical evening that brought together young voices and orchestral performances in a festive celebration of music and community. The event featured the Child’s Play Chorus from the Margao branch, comprising over 30 performers led by Vanessa Menezes, whose energetic and heartfelt renditions were warmly received by the audience.

The choir performed a mix of contemporary and traditional pieces, including popular songs such as Eye of the Tiger, Roar, and You’ve Got a Friend in Me, alongside beloved Christmas carols like Hark the Herald and Silent Night. Their confident performances and youthful enthusiasm drew enthusiastic applause and reflected the growing interest in choral singing among children in the region.

The evening also featured Camerata Goa, the foundation’s orchestra conducted by Dr. Luis Dias. The ensemble presented a selection of classical carols including Coventry Carol, What Child Is This, In Dulce Jubilo, and Go Tell It on the Mountain, adding depth and richness to the festive programme. Camerata Goa later went on to perform at the Museum of Christian Art’s Carols on the Hill, followed by the Child’s Play Chorus, further extending the foundation’s presence in Goa’s festive music calendar.

Reflecting on the foundation’s expanding choral initiatives, Dr. Luis Dias shared that choral projects are currently active in Margao and Saligao, with plans to begin a new project in Panjim in the coming year. He highlighted the enthusiasm of both children and parents, noting that the Margao choir has already delivered five performances in recent months. Emphasising inclusivity, he added that the choral projects are open to all and aim to encourage more young people to experience the joy and beauty of singing together.

Events in Goa

Raponkarancho Sea Food Festival 2025 Opens at Arambol, Celebrating Goa’s Coastal Heritage

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Arambol came alive with aromas of fresh seafood, lively music, and vibrant coastal traditions as Day 1 of the Raponkarancho Sea Food Festival 2025 unfolded, setting a festive tone for the days ahead. The festival offered a heartfelt tribute to Goa’s maritime heritage, blending culinary excellence with cultural expression and community participation.

The festival was formally inaugurated in the presence of Hon’ble MLA Shri Jit Arolkar and Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik, along with Shri Deepak Narvekar, Deputy General Manager (Marketing), GTDC, and other dignitaries and community representatives. Their presence marked the beginning of a celebration deeply rooted in Goa’s coastal identity and fishing traditions.

Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri Rohan A. Khaunte emphasised the importance of such festivals in preserving traditional livelihoods and cultural practices. He noted that the Raponkarancho Sea Food Festival plays a crucial role in safeguarding Goa’s fishing heritage and culinary legacy, while also strengthening community-led tourism that reflects the state’s authentic character.

Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the festival serves as a platform to bring fishing communities, local cuisine, and cultural traditions together. He underlined that initiatives like these promote experiential tourism while ensuring that local communities remain central to tourism development in Goa.

Visitors were treated to a diverse spread of traditional seafood preparations, thoughtfully curated by local fishermen and culinary experts. Each dish reflected the flavours of coastal Goa, offering an authentic gastronomic experience rooted in age-old recipes and fresh local produce.

Adding to the festive ambience were live cultural performances that showcased Goa’s rich artistic traditions, creating an immersive experience for both locals and tourists. Music, dance, and community interaction transformed the venue into a lively celebration of coastal life.

The Raponkarancho Sea Food Festival 2025 stands as a vibrant celebration of Goa’s coastal traditions, community spirit, and culinary richness. As the festival continues over the coming days, it promises more flavours, performances, and experiences that reinforce Goa’s vision of sustainable and community-driven tourism.

Events in Goa

Porvorim Rising to Host NoMoZo 7.0 on January 11, 2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Porvorim Rising has announced the seventh edition of NoMoZo, scheduled to take place on January 11, 2026, once again transforming Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg into a vibrant, people-centric public space. Over the years, NoMoZo has grown into one of Goa’s most anticipated community-driven festivals, bringing together residents, artists, innovators, families, and local businesses in a celebration of fitness, culture, heritage, innovation, and togetherness.

Despite ongoing development activities in Porvorim, the organisers have ensured that the scale, accessibility, and spirit of NoMoZo remain unchanged. Speaking on the occasion, Goa’s Minister for Tourism, IT, E&C, and Printing and Stationery, Rohan Khaunte, highlighted NoMoZo’s evolution as a people’s festival that encourages inclusive public spaces, community bonding, and healthy lifestyles, while promising an even more engaging experience in its seventh edition.

This year’s NoMoZo will feature an extensive range of interactive zones including Kids, Art, Astronomy, Heritage, Performance and Dance, Martial Arts, Health, Youth, IT and Science, Fitness, Boxing, Influencer, and a newly introduced Karaoke Zone aimed at encouraging participation and self-expression. Organisers emphasised innovation, learning, and community engagement as core pillars of the event, with each zone designed to offer something new and interactive for attendees of all ages.

Remaining true to its community-first ethos, NoMoZo 7.0 will continue to support local artisans, creators, and vendors by providing free stalls, while the Heritage Zone will showcase Goa’s cultural roots through folk performances, indigenous art, crafts, and handmade products. The IT and Science Zone will once again spotlight Goan innovation with live demonstrations such as drone technology and 3D printing. With sports, live boxing, health initiatives, cultural showcases, technology exhibits, and entertainment packed into a single day, NoMoZo 7.0 promises to be a vibrant celebration of community spirit and collective creativity in Porvorim.

Events in Goa

Raponkarcho Sea Food Festival 2025 Celebrates Goa’s Fishing Heritage in Arambol

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, will organise the Raponkarcho Sea Food Festival 2025 from December 28 to 30 at the Main Parking Area, Arambol, highlighting Goa’s rich seafood heritage, traditional fishing culture and vibrant coastal lifestyle. The three-day festival aims to offer visitors an immersive cultural experience rooted in local cuisine, music and community participation.

The festival will feature traditional Goan seafood cuisine stalls, cultural programmes and live musical performances, with entry free for all visitors. Programmes will begin daily from 6.00 pm, while the inaugural ceremony will take place on December 28 at 5.30 pm in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Tourism Minister Shri Rohan Ashok Khaunte, senior government officials and representatives from the tourism sector.

Speaking ahead of the festival, Tourism Minister Shri Rohan Ashok Khaunte said fishing has been central to Goa’s way of life for generations and continues to shape its coastal communities and food culture. He noted that the festival provides a platform to honour the skills of the fishing community while promoting authentic Goan seafood and strengthening cultural tourism through community-led initiatives.

Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik stated that the festival has been curated to bring together cuisine, music and cultural engagement in a festive setting, with Arambol serving as an ideal venue to showcase Goa’s cultural diversity and local traditions.

The opening night on December 28 will feature a musical line-up led by iconic Goan singer Lorna, along with performances by Purple Rain, Black Slade and Afroz Sayyed. December 29 will see performances by Gravity, Brainwash, 24K India and Teri Miko, while the festival will conclude on December 30 with performances by Forefront, The Imperial, Usman and Sartek.

Through initiatives like the Raponkarcho Sea Food Festival, the Department of Tourism continues to promote Goa’s traditional cuisine, cultural expressions and community participation, enhancing the festive tourism experience during the year-end season.

Events in Goa

I-Run Goa Marathon 2026 Introduces New 32 km Challenge in Seventh Edition

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The upcoming edition of the I-Run Goa Marathon, organised by the I-Help Foundation, Goa, is scheduled to take place on January 4, 2026, marking nine years of the foundation’s work to uplift underprivileged communities across the state. Entering its seventh edition, the marathon introduces a new 32 km race category aimed at experienced runners looking to push their endurance further.

Founder and spokesperson of the marathon, Praveen Maurya, said the event continues to evolve each year by offering new challenges to the running community. He noted that the 32 km category was introduced for runners ready to go beyond conventional distances while staying connected to the marathon’s core purpose of social impact.

Held under the theme “Run for a Cause,” the marathon continues to support social, educational and environmental initiatives. Funds raised from the event will be directed towards child education and women empowerment programmes, benefiting children in 23 orphanages across Calangute and South Goa by providing education, meals, clothing and sports equipment.

Since its inception in 2017, the I-Run Goa Marathon has grown into one of Goa’s most anticipated community sporting events. Despite a two-year pause due to Covid-19 norms, the marathon has seen participation from runners across India and overseas, drawing more than 10,000 participants over its previous six editions.

In addition to the new 32 km category, the marathon will feature a 21 km half-marathon, 10 km and 5 km timed runs, a 5 km charity run and a 2 km fun run. The 32 km race will flag off at 5:00 am from the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Taleigao, passing Panjim Gymkhana before looping back to the start point.

The event will welcome runners from the armed forces, Goa Police and around 30 para-athletes, reinforcing its inclusive and community-driven spirit. Set along the scenic Dona Paula and Miramar stretch, the course will offer hydration points, breakfast counters, medical and physiotherapy support, and dedicated volunteers to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

All participants will receive medals, certificates, T-shirts and timing bibs, except those in charity and fun run categories. The day will conclude with interactive fitness sessions and activities hosted by Sunil Fitness Wave, creating a celebratory atmosphere for runners and spectators alike. Registrations for the I-Run Goa Marathon 2026 are currently open on the official marathon website.