Cunha will host the 6th edition of the Cheese Festival, an event that will take place at Parque Lavapés between the 5th and the September 7th holiday. The fair will feature more than 40 exhibitors from São Paulo and Minas Gerais, offering a variety of artisanal products such as dairy products, as well as beer, honey, olive oil, and wines. In addition to product exhibitions, the gathering will include musical performances and culinary shows, along with tasting sessions.
Participants can register for specialized pairing sessions, covering Cheese and Wine, Cheese and Olive Oil, and Beer & Cheese combinations. Spots for these sessions are limited to 30 people, and the registration fee is R$ 45, which must be paid by August 25th through the official website.
Highlights of this year's edition include the Cooking Show, a space dedicated to lectures given by professional chefs. Notable names include Carioca chef João Vieira, who was awarded in the Abrachefs 2025 competition. Other regional chefs will also be present to conduct live culinary demonstrations using artisanal cheeses. There will also be a special tasting moment aimed at children and young people.
The musical program is diverse. On Saturday (the 5th), there will be Senegalese Afro music, MPB with Marcelo Theo and Alice Camila Lage & Banda, and viola performances by Moreno Overá. On Sunday (the 6th), the public can enjoy rock and blues with Otávio Myashiro, jazz with Fabíola Leslie and Banda, and a dance performance by Teca Maris. The closing, on Monday (the 7th), will feature MPB, blues, and jazz with Rogério Jorge.
Artisan cheese culture and professional training
In addition to its lavender fields and ceramic workshops, Cunha has a strong culture linked to cheese production, with over 1,500 local producers. To promote this production, the 2nd Cheese Training Course of the Cheese Festival is held. This year, the city hall registered 50 inscriptions, and 20 young people were selected to receive theoretical and practical training, covering everything from milking to commercialization. In 2025, the number selected was lower, totaling 18, with 12 graduates, six of whom are already working in the sector.
The previous year, the city hosted the 1st Southeast Artisanal Cheese Award. This event featured the participation of 90 judges, experts in the field, and received 630 cheeses from four Brazilian states.
Detailed daily schedule
On Saturday (the 5th), the schedule begins at 10 am with the Cooking Show, followed by guided cheese tastings for children and young people, led by Cheesemaker Luiz. At 12 pm, there will be Cheese & Wine pairing, while from 12 pm to 1:30 pm the musical show Quitutes e Batuques takes place, featuring Senegalese Afro Music. At 2 pm, the Cooking Show presents a recipe with a Regional Chef, and from 2 pm to 3:30 pm MPB plays with Teteco dos Anjos, musician Marcelo Theo. This is followed by Cheese & Olive Oil pairing at 3 pm, and another Cooking Show at 4 pm, with Moreno Overá playing viola from 4 pm to 5 pm. The day concludes with Cheese & Artisanal Beer pairing at 5 pm and an MPB musical show with Alice Camila Lage & Banda from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, followed by the end of activities at 8 pm.
On Sunday (the 6th), the morning starts at 10:30 am with Cheese & Artisanal Beer pairing. From 11 am to 12:30 pm, there is a musical show mixing MPB, Rock, and Blues with Otávio Myashiro, and from 11 am to 12 pm, the Cooking Show teaches recipes with Chef Célia from Kallas da Serra Restaurant. At 2 pm, the Cooking Show focuses on 'Cheese in the Kitchen & Choice of the Chef of Cunha's Local Cheeses' with Influencer Chef João Vieira. After the Cheese & Artisanal Beer pairing at 3 pm, the 2nd Cheese Training Certificate Award Ceremony takes place at 3:30 pm, followed by another Cooking Show at 4:30 pm. The day continues with the Jazz show by Fabíola Leslie and Banda from 4 pm to 5 pm, Cheese & Olive Oil pairing at 5 pm, and a musical and dance show with Teca Maris from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, ending at 8 pm.
On Monday (the 7th), the program includes a saxophone musical show with MPB, Blues, and Jazz, presented by Rogério Jorge, from 11 am to 12 pm, followed by Cheese & Artisanal Beer pairing from 12 pm to 1 pm, with the closing scheduled for 3 pm.