Festivals and pilgrimages in Matosinhos are a cultural manifestation that unites religious devotion with fun and socialising. These events, which take place throughout May and June, extend for three weeks of festivities, notably the Festa do Senhor de Matosinhos. Thousands of lights illuminate the festival grounds and the Igreja do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, a work by Nasoni, where sermons, masses, and a grand procession to the Senhor do Padrão are held. The streets come alive with music bands, craft exhibitions, legends and traditions are recalled, and gastronomic recipes of fish and seafood are promoted. The festival culminates with fireworks, preceded by leisure activities such as table football, carousels, and the traditional Feira da Louça (Pottery Fair).
The Festa do Mártir S. Sebastião, dedicated to fishermen, expresses their devotion to their patron saint with a procession to the Doca Pesca (Fishing Dock). Fishermen pray for an abundant and safe sea, decorate their boats, and participate in a solemn mass. The festival includes variety shows, folk groups, and fireworks.
In the Freguesia de Santa Cruz do Bispo, the Festa do S. Brás is celebrated on the first Sunday after February 2nd. A procession leads pilgrims from the Igreja Matriz de Santa Cruz do Bispo to the Monte do S. Brás, where a field mass is held and traditional stalls are set up.
The Festa da Senhora da Hora, celebrated on Ascension Thursday, involves masses in the Igreja Nova and the Capela da Senhora da Hora, in the Parque das Sete Bicas. The festivities continue with stalls, carousels, and the famous Fonte das Sete Bicas (Seven Fountains).
The Procissão do Senhor dos Passos (Procession of the Lord of Sorrows), on the 5th Sunday of Lent, starts from the Igreja Matriz de Leça da Palmeira, evoking Jesus' condemnation with floats and biblical figures, culminating at the Capela do Corpo Santo (Chapel of the Holy Body).
The markets of the municipality of Matosinhos attract crowds from all over the Greater Porto area, with hundreds of stalls selling a wide range of products. The Feira Semanal de Santana (Santana Weekly Market) takes place every Friday afternoon in Parque de Santana, in the freguesia of Leça do Balio. The Feiras da Senhora da Hora and Custóias, held on Saturdays, are attraction points for thousands of people, offering everything at good prices.
The Feira dos Golfinhos (Dolphin Fair), held on the fourth Sunday of each month in Jardim Basílio Teles, in front of the Paços do Concelho (City Hall), gained notoriety as a venue for collectors of antiques and modern objects, having been featured by the B.B.C. in London.
The festivals, fairs, and pilgrimages of Matosinhos are cultural manifestations of authenticity, grandeur, and eclecticism, making the municipality a place of continuous celebration.
