From August 30 to September 08, there will be no shortage of reasons to visit the Vila Nova de Famalicão Handicraft and Gastronomy Fair. The event, now in its 39th year, will feature more than 80 artisans and producers from all over the country, accompanied by a cultural line-up made up of big names such as
António Zambujo, Plutónio, Pedro Moutinho and Ana Laíns, among others.
The doors open on Friday August 30 at 6pm in Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque, the venue for the entire event, and inside you'll be able to find handicrafts and gastronomic delicacies ranging from embroidery and traditional basketry to convent sweets and liqueurs, designed by masters from Miranda do Corvo, Ovar, Braga, Barcelos, Mogadouro, Monchique, Odivelas, Gondomar, Monforte, among other Portuguese locations.
The live work of the artisans will once again be one of the initiative's strong points, but there will also be plenty of entertainment throughout the ten days of the fair.
The 39th Vila Nova de Famalicão Handicraft and Gastronomy Fair includes a programme made up of two dozen musical events, including concerts by Ana Laíns, on August 31; Plutónio, on September 03; Pedro Moutinho, on September 04 (as part of the 11th Famalicão Fado Festival); and António Zambujo, on September 05. Visitors will also be able to enjoy performances by the band Cordel on the first day of the event - Friday August 30 - and Cláudia Martins & Minhotos Marotos the following day.
On the event's two stages there will also be space for artistic projects from Famalicão, such as Folk D'Ave (August 30), Quatroclaves (September 01), Fammashow (September 02), Sons do Bairro (September 06), among others, which reinforce the Craft Fair's role as a privileged stage for promoting and showcasing local artists.
It should be remembered that in 2023, more than 120,000 people visited the Famalicão Handicraft and Gastronomy Fair.
‘It's an event that is already one of the main tourist products in our municipality and in the north of the country. This year, in addition to a beautiful range of talented national artisans and producers, we also have an excellent cultural programme, which allows me to say that once again we are facing an event with high potential and quality,’ says the mayor Mário Passos.
The 39th Vila Nova de Famalicão Handicraft and Gastronomy Fair is free to enter and the full programme is available here.
