More than 56,000 people headed to Campo de Viriato on opening day, marking the highest number ever recorded for the event’s inauguration. The evening was highlighted by the presence of the President of the Republic, who was presented with the Key to the City of Viseu, and an emotional “homecoming” concert by the band Fingertips.

On a night with free admission, the “Guardian of Popular Fairs” once again demonstrated its immense power to attract and mobilise crowds from both the region and the nation. The launch of the 32-day program blended the weight of tradition with an official ceremonial aspect, featuring a special appearance by the Zés Pereiras of Vildemoinhos and a fireworks display that lit up the city skyline following the official presentation of the event lineup.

The highlight of the formal ceremony occurred when the President of the Republic, on his first official visit to the region since taking office, lit up the fairgrounds, symbolising the opening of the fair. Accompanied by the Mayor of Viseu, João Azevedo; the Secretary of State for Tourism, Pedro Machado; and the President of Viseu Marca, José Silva Fernandes; the Head of State addressed an enthusiastic crowd as well as civil and diplomatic dignitaries, including the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal.

Visibly moved, the President of the Republic recalled the last time he had attended the event: “The last time I was at the São Mateus Fair was 12 years ago. It was precisely here that I met the late Mayor Almeida Henriques, whose memory I wish to honour today,” he emphasised.

Upon being presented with the Key to the City of Viseu by João Azevedo, a gesture reserved for only a few notable figures in the municipality’s history, António José Seguro expressed his gratitude: “This is the first time I have received a city key while serving as President, and it holds very special meaning for me. I know this is only the fourth time in Viseu’s history that the city keys have been awarded, and I promise to use them to return again and again.”

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A Strategic Showcase for Viseu Dão Lafões

Beyond its strong festive and cultural aspects, the São Mateus Fair reaffirms its role as an economic and tourism engine for the region. For the Viseu Dão Lafões Intermunicipal Community (CIM), the event serves as a major showcase for promoting its 14 constituent municipalities.

In the words of João Azevedo, who holds the dual roles of municipal leader and President of the Viseu Dão Lafões CIM, the fair is “our region’s greatest promotional stage during the summer and an unparalleled opportunity to display the diversity of what we have to offer.” The mayor also highlighted the ambition to turn visits to the fair into a springboard for attracting tourism year-round, showcasing the work being done regarding the territory’s sustainability and innovation.

This vision is shared by the CIM’s Executive Secretary, Nuno Martinho, who views the event as the ideal venue for bringing citizens closer to regional public policies: “From mobility to education, and from civil protection to sustainability, we want to demonstrate that the Intermunicipal Community is accessible, innovative, and committed. The tourism growth the region has been experiencing shows that this integrated vision is yielding concrete results,” he stated.

A Return to Roots and Emotion on Stage

The band Fingertips provided the musical entertainment for the opening night. The concert took on a particularly sentimental tone due to the roots of lead singer Zé Manel, who grew up in the Viseu municipality.

Performing before an enthusiastic crowd, the musician made no secret of his emotion at singing at Campo de Viriato: “It feels so good to be back home. The city of Viseu has saved me many times,” he shared with the audience.

The 634th São Mateus Fair continues at Campo de Viriato until 6 September, reinforcing its identity as a major popular fair where traditional commerce, gastronomy, handicrafts, and spectacular shows continue to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the heart of the Beira Alta region.