Now in its 60th edition, the Pinhão Festival features five days of celebration in Campos do Jordão, in the interior of São Paulo. The festival has become a tradition and takes place annually at the city’sMunicipal Market . It brings together gastronomy and music and reinforces the culture surrounding the pinhão, a typical delicacy of the Mantiqueira region.
The seed of the Araucaria angustifolia, the pine nut is native to the high-altitude forests of the Mantiqueira Mountains. It even tends to herald the arrival of autumn and cooler temperatures!
With a festival boasting over half a century of history, Campos do Jordão has adopted the pine nut as its symbol. The seed is part of both the local cuisine and the city’s visual identity, thanks to its mountainous landscape.
What to expect from the Pinhão Festival in Campos do Jordão
In addition to the Campos do Jordão Municipal Market, Vila Abernéssia, the festival’s birthplace, will also host part of the festival’s program. This makes the 2026 edition historic, as it marks a return to its origins.
Right at the festival entrance, visitors receive free small portions of boiled pine nuts, directly from the hands of araucaria gatherers. This helps strengthen the relationship between pine nutproducers and consumers.
And speaking of the festival’s star, the pine nut appears in various types of dishes. These range from the most traditional, such as farofas, “ ,” and stews, to hamburgers, ice cream, and cakes, as well as craft beverages .
Because pine nuts are so easy to incorporate into both sweet and savory recipes, they offer a wide variety of flavors.
In addition, the event will feature MasterChef champions Dayse Paparoto and Michele Crispim giving demonstration classes. The festival will also include workshops focused on culinary techniques using pine nuts, offered by chefs and Senac.
The program also features musical performances by local and regional artists. With viola music and cultural presentations such as theater, marching bands, and dance, as well as children’s attractions and the traditional Pinhão Queen Contest.
How to participate?
The festival takes place from May 6 to 10, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Its goal is to be an event accessible to both locals and tourists; therefore, admission, performances, and shows are free. In general, visitors pay only for food and drinks at the stands and restaurants participating in the festival.
