The Festival of the Lord of Matosinhos is a highlight among the pilgrimages of the municipality and the north of the country, and has acquired a new dynamic with the remarkable accessibility that Matosinhos has acquired. It takes place during the months of May and June and lasts for three weeks of religious festivities and recreational, cultural and sports activities.

Thousands of lights illuminate the festival site and the Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, whose altars are artistically decorated with beautiful flowers. In the church, the work of Nasoni is told, sermons and masses, both festive and solemn, and a great procession is made to the Lord of the Padrão.

Music bands liven up the streets and traditional kiosks, handicrafts are exhibited, legends and traditions are remembered, the Inventory of the Architectural and Religious Heritage of Matosinhos is shown or, as a party, gastronomic recipes for fish and seafood are made known.

Between the puppet show on Tuesday afternoon and the splendid fireworks on Saturday night, there is table football, a carousel and bumper cars, grilled sardines and green soup or, the best way to enjoy the festival, buying traditional crockery at the stalls at the “Feira da Louça”.