VII Natural Fibres Festival welcomes over 620 visitors

Aug. 19, 2025

On 1, 2 and 3 August, the São Miguel Nature Park promoted the 7th edition of the Natural Fibres Festival, an event that took place in the Antigo Pomar das Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas, between 10h and 16h, and which attracted more than 620 visitors.

Part of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism – Terras do Priolo, the festival aims to preserve and promote regional crafts that use natural fibres, combining tradition and innovation, passing on knowledge and techniques to new audiences and enhancing the Azorean socio-cultural heritage.

In this edition, visitors had the opportunity to learn about and try their hand at working with wicker, esparto grass, corn husks, banana fibre and wood, through demonstrations and workshops led by local artisans and guests. Among the usual names, Alcídio Andrade and Bento Silva, specialists in wicker and New Zealand Flax leaf, and Adelaide Costa, who works with corn leaf, were in attendance. The event also featured new participants, such as Susana Melo (New Zealand Flax leaves), Vanessa Melo, from the Musaz project (banana fibre), and Zsombi Keresztes, from the S87 Wood project (wood carving).

The workshops were highlights of the festival, allowing participants to learn how to create items such as flowers, coasters, boxes and mats using different fibres. Craftswoman Vanessa Melo revealed the process of extracting and using banana fibre, while Zsombi Keresztes taught how to carve small ‘spreading knives’ from Monterey cypress wood (Cupressus macrocarpa).

In addition to the workshops, there was also an exhibition of wicker and New Zealand Flax leaf pieces by artisan Bento Silva, which aroused great interest and curiosity among visitors.

On the 1st (Friday), the organisation welcomed guest groups, namely a senior group from the parish of Ribeira Quente and young people from the Child and Youth Development Centre - CDIJ Mosaico, from Vila Franca do Campo, who were able to try their hand at the craft.

The final assessment was very positive, with visitors praising not only the organisation and atmosphere of the festival, but also the unique setting of the Antigo Pomar das Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas.

The 7th Natural Fibres Festival was supported by the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure, the Azores Handicraft and Design Centre and Roulote Amaral, reinforcing the partnership between entities for the promotion of handicrafts and the local economy.