The Municipality of Vagos, through its Museum of Play, actively participated in two significant cultural events in Northern Portugal: the Autumn Festival, held at Serralves Park in Porto, and the Toy Festival in Alfena, municipality of Valongo. During the final days of September, the museum brought its work of preserving and promoting traditional toys and games to new audiences, also showcasing knowledge and crafts that define the identity of Vagos and the region.
On September 26th and 27th, the 16th edition of the Autumn Festival celebrated the new season at Serralves Park. The event featured a multidisciplinary program including workshops, performances, and participatory activities focused on biodiversity, landscape, and traditional crafts. Invited by the Serralves Foundation, the Municipality of Vagos and the Museum of Play were part of the program, offering visitors Traditional Games, artistic workshops "Marafonas Dolls" and "Earth Slime", and the "Mending Nets" workshop, led by master Alberto Silva, a fisherman from the Companha Ti João da Murtosa.
On Sunday, September 27th, the space of the Municipality of Vagos and the Museum of Play welcomed a visit from Manuel Ferreira da Silva, Chairman of the Board of the Serralves Foundation, and Pedro Duarte, President of the Porto Municipal Council. The delegation was received by Vagos' Councillor for Culture, Graça Gadelho, and observed the fishing net mending workshop, an art linked to the sea and estuary passed down through generations.
The Autumn Festival stood out as a moment of intergenerational gathering, uniting culture, nature, and community to celebrate heritage and sustainable practices. Concurrently, between September 25th and 27th, the Museum of Play was present at the Toy Festival in Alfena, promoted by the Municipality of Valongo and the Parish Council of Alfena. This event aims to preserve and promote traditional toys, an identity mark of the region.
The Museum of Play was integrated into the main section of the Toy Festival, dedicated to artisans, collectors, and toy museums. These participations enhance the Museum of Play's reach beyond Vagos, establishing it as a reference in safeguarding traditional toys and as a cultural and tourist attraction.
