Cantarinhas Fair wet but closes with “positive balance” and “happy” exhibitors

Despite the rain and the cold, the locals did not miss the event where the small clay jugs are sold, which give the fair its name and which are one of the great identity symbols of the municipality. Of course there were fewer people but traders say the fair was good. “The fair went well. The weather wasn’t the best but it went well as far as possible. There were a lot of people, even at night”, said Camila Coelho Santos. “There were people. At Feira das Cantarinhas there are and always have been people”, said Susana Castro, who admitted that everyone buys. “Tourists always buy, they are amazed when they see these pieces. There are already a lot of Spanish tourists here, those who are usually in Miranda do Douro, who look for it and like it”, she also highlighted. “It tends to be a very good fair, which attracts a lot of people”, said Teresa Ferreira, from Amarante.

Maria de Lurdes Barros, from Bragança, still makes them the old-fashioned way and, having produced more than 400 for the fair, says they are all sold. “Anyone who appreciates crafts comes to buy traditional crafts. I had a lady who came by and told me that she had already bought from the others but recognized that these were the real ones and took two. They are a little more expensive but they are the real thing.”

The fair brings people to Bragança and there is no doubt about that. Dina Mesquita is the owner of Baixa Hotel and has a full space these days. “At this point there is a lot of demand. We even have agreements with some vendors for market days. There is also a lot of demand from Spaniards and even from national tourists”.

The Feira das Cantarinhas is a great business opportunity for restaurants. Some business owners suffered the consequences of the bad weather but there are others who have no complaints. “It’s been great. The fair brings a lot of people. We are in the mouth of the wolf, that is, next to the fair, so it is easier to have a full restaurant. We can’t complain”, said Vítor Cordeiro. “There may have been fewer people at the fair but I have no reason to complain. I had several reservations, from Spaniards, but not only. There were two weeks in which the restaurant was practically full every day, especially at lunchtime”, explained Dina Mesquita. “This year, they removed the stallholders from this pedestrian street, where the restaurant is located, and, as a result, visitors don’t come here much and don’t see the restaurant. This was bad for us as we didn’t have the same clientele as last year”, lamented Leonor Bento.

The fair is organized by the chamber and the Commercial, Industrial and Services Association of Bragança. The vice-president of the association, Jorge Varejão, recognizes that there were fewer people but highlights that this is an event that brings a lot of dynamics to the city. “We are facing one of the biggest craft fairs in the country. The idea is to bring people from outside and there were several excursions. The idea is also to help local businesses. The final balance, apart from the rain, is positive. Went well”.

The vice-president of the chamber, Fernanda Silva, says that the event is expected to grow. “We will study, with ACISB and other organizing entities, how we can extend and increase the number of exhibitors because there are many who want to participate. We will study the situation and try to respond positively.”

The Cantarinhas Fair started on Friday and ended yesterday. Alongside this, the Bragança Crafts Fair took place, which started two days before and which also closed its doors yesterday.

Written by Brigantia