After three editions that drew an ever-growing number of visitors to one of the city’s historic districts, São João | Uma Rua Viva returns on Saturday, October 3, for its fourth edition. Between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Rua de São João will once again be closed to traffic and transformed into a pedestrian-friendly route featuring snacks, wine, music, art, and community initiatives—with free admission and no reservation required. This time, the festivities won’t end in the afternoon: the program extends into the evening, featuring a DJ set and a live concert starting at 9:30 p.m.
The concept has remained the same since the first edition: for a few hours, the street’s commercial and cultural spaces cease to be mere thoroughfares and become hubs for gathering, creation, and discovery, while preserving each business’s identity and strengthening the bond among those who work, live, and create in this part of the city.

Drawing the Street

One of the new features of this edition is the Drawing Workshop with Vasco Mota, at 4:00 p.m., which invites participants to explore Rua de São João through drawing. Participation costs 35 €, with all materials included, and 10% of the registration fee will be donated to the São Nicolau Social Center. Pre-registration is required and can be done via Instagram @saojoaoruaviva or by email to ruasaojoaoviva@gmail.com.

Art will also once again take over the street spaces. Citynizer, which made its debut at the event in the previous edition, will this time host an exhibition by artist Rúben Esteves, winner of the 2023 National Exhibition of Young Creators in the Digital Art category.

A Street Connected to the Community

The partnership with the São Nicolau Social and Parish Center, which has been part of the event since its first edition, remains at the heart of the project. The Toy Fair returns, with proceeds going to the Social Center, which will also host a Creative Workshop by the Casa da Horta Cultural Association at 3:15 p.m.

From cuisine to music, an afternoon to explore on foot

Cuisine remains one of the pillars of the initiative. For €7.50, each participating venue offers a small bite accompanied by wine or another beverage, allowing you to create your own itinerary down the street, going from place to place. Among the offerings are a pintxo with cider or txakoli from SAGARDI, a pica-pau with a glass of wine from MUST, a patanisca with wine from Tapas 65, bread with chorizo and Super Bock Abadia from Cris Bar, a codfish cake with Port wine from Local Food Experience, and a pancake with a latte from Miniquecas. Ten percent of the price of each item will be donated to the São Nicolau Social Center.

Music will accompany the event from early afternoon. The program kicks off at 3:00 p.m. with a DJ set dedicated to the ’80s and ’90s. At 5:30 p.m., Fado na Baixa brings “Fado à Porta” back to the streets, followed by another DJ set featuring hits from the ’80s and ’90s at 6 p.m. At 8 p.m., the Hotel Carris hosts a toast with Cockburn’s, and at 9:30 p.m., the night continues with a DJ set by Double Trouble and a live concert by Joeze.

Throughout the day, there will also be an exclusive tour of the English Trading Post at 3:30 p.m. and the cultural Peddy Paper event, departing from the Hotel ICON’s Casa Aberta.


Admission: Free

Snacks + drinks: €7.50 per participating venue

Drawing Workshop: 35 €, materials included · advance registration required via Instagram or ruasaojoaoviva@gmail.com · 10% of proceeds go to the São Nicolau Social Center

Schedule

• 3:00 p.m. — DJ set — ’80s and ’90s

• 3:15 p.m. — Creative Workshop by the Casa da Horta Cultural Association, at the São Nicolau Social Center

• 3:30 p.m. — Exclusive tour of the English Trading Post

• 4:00 p.m. — Drawing Workshop with Vasco Mota (advance registration required · €35 · materials included)

• 5:30 p.m. — “Fado à Porta,” by Fado na Baixa

• 6:00 p.m. — DJ set — ’80s and ’90s

• 8:00 p.m. — Cockburn’s Toast at the Hotel Carris

• 9:30 p.m. — DJ set with Double Trouble and a live concert by Joeze

• Throughout the day — Peddy Paper cultural event starting at the Hotel ICON Open House · Toy Fair to benefit the São Nicolau Social Center · Exhibition by Rúben Esteves at Citynizer