From August 8 to 16, the Heritage Festival brings together three initiatives that celebrate the heritage, history, and flavors of São Paulo. Following a revamp, the festival—created by the city government—now includes Heritage Day, Heritage on the Table, and Heritage Appreciation Week.
Currently themed “São Paulo: Every Glance, a Story,” the event revolves around the narratives that permeate the city. It features more than 500 free attractions for diverse audiences spread across all regions of the capital.
Inspired by the French model Journées du Patrimoine, the event has taken on a São Paulo twist to offer a more democratic perspective on the city’s culture and heritage, including its museums and historic neighborhoods.
Heritage Day
With over 100 itineraries that explore the city’s collective memory, the weekend of August 15 and 16 features exhibitions and themed tours on Black history, the history of local soccer teams, architecture, and even urban legends.
In addition, the festival offers guided walking tours through historic centers, traditional neighborhoods, and cultural venues such as the Municipal Theater, the Latin American Memorial, and the Anhangabaú Valley, as well as historic churches and various museums in São Paulo.
The itinerary also includes workshops and courses at cultural venues that address topics such as the preservation of São Paulo’s historical heritage. Check out the full schedule here.
Heritage at the Table
Patrimônio à Mesa, which is responsible for the gastronomic circuit, takes place from August 10 to 16, with approximately 35 participating establishments throughout the city.
Each restaurant participates with a “heritage highlight”—that is, a dish that symbolizes the restaurant, whether through its connection to the founder’s history or its ties to the neighborhood where it’s located.
In addition, establishments at iconic locations throughout the city will be open 24 hours a day, offering promotional combos, discounts, and special menus.
Heritage Appreciation Week
As the festival’s most educational component, Heritage Appreciation Week promotes a series of discussions and reflections. Topics include tangible and intangibleheritage, as well as the memory of historically marginalized groups.
The activities promoted in this part of the festival are geared toward cultural managers, researchers, and architects, as well as the general public interested in the proposed themes.
In addition to these attractions, the Heritage Festival features hundreds of other free activities. To view the complete list, visit the official program on the São Paulo Department of Culture’s social media channels.
