The Lisbon Book Fair will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday for security reasons related to “possible celebrations” related to Portugal’s football league, the Portuguese Association of Editors and Booksellers said on Tuesday.
This early closure will lead to “the cancellation or rescheduling of 155 events that were due to take place from 5 p.m., out of the 265 already scheduled” for Saturday, and to “a significant drop in bills” from publishers and booksellers, the organizer adds. of the Lisbon Book Fair, without anticipating estimates.
The decision of the Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers (APEL), as indicated in a statement, is the result of “information from the Public Security Police [PSP]” “that the closing of the Lisbon Book Fair should take place at 5 pm [no sábado]to ensure that until 6 p.m. the fence, in Parque Eduado VII, is “completely free of people (workers and visitors)”.
It is about the end of the games in the last round of the Portuguese professional football league and the need to guarantee security “in the perimeter in connection with any celebrations” in the Marquês de Pombal area, “including Parque Eduardo VII “.
In this regard, APEL states that it will “fully comply with the request of the PSP and thus contribute to the observance of public order and the safety of people and property”.
However, “Participating publishers and booksellers” according to APEL expect “a significant decrease in billing, on what would be the first Saturday of the fair,” with the closing taking place six hours before the usual time for this day.
“On Sunday, May 28, the Book Fair will continue at normal hours and will continue uninterruptedly until June 11, as planned,” concludes APEL.
From Monday to Thursday, the Lisbon Book Fair is open from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm, on Friday and the eve of public holidays from 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm and on Saturday from 11:00 pm. am at 11 pm. On Sundays it also opens at 11am but closes at 10pm.
The 93rd edition of the Lisbon Book Fair opens this Thursday, May 25 and runs until June 11, with 139 participants, more than 980 editorial stamps and 340 pavilions.
Source: DN
