[1] In the 21st century, younger population, although participating strongly in this festival, adopted new ways to celebrate it, such as the very popular Saint Peter raves in the waterfront, in Carvalhido and in Largo Caetano de Oliveira.

All the traditional midsummer elements were kept, such as the bonfire, the celebrations occur in the streets and competition between quarters started to occur, this was important as there was a traditional rivalry which started in the 19th century between Bairro Norte and Bairro Sul, two distinct fishermen quarters.

In 2014, with the holiday falling on Saturday, the city received over half-million visitors in a single night, as Saint Peter Festival marks the end of the Santos Populares celebrations in Portugal.

Saint Peter night occurs in the evening of June 28th to extends to the early morning of the 29th.

Major celebrations take place in each district main street, the city center and in the seafront.

Rival Bairro Norte colors are taken from S. José de Ribamar Brotherhood established in 1859.