Ribeirão Pires Chocolate Festival

The 2026 Chocolate Festival in Ribeirão Pires, São Paulo, is an event held in the city centre featuring gastronomic, cultural, and musical attractions. The festival involves local businesses, including food trucks and gourmet carts, and is supported by a partnership with Chocolândia to provide workshops and training for entrepreneurs.

Initial preparations included a municipal contest that crowned Amanda Alves as the ‘Princess of Chocolate 2026’. As the event progressed, participation grew to include more than 90 businesses. Programming features musical acts such as Demônios da Garoa, Renato Teixeira, and Rodrigo Teaser, alongside wellness initiatives and children’s shows.

To support the local economy, the financial cooperative Sicredi implemented a promotional campaign where customers can enter prize draws by presenting receipts. Entry to the festival is facilitated through the donation of one kilogram of non-perishable food or pet food.

Recent developments highlight a focus on social inclusion and the creative economy. The event has provided accessibility support, such as Libras interpreters, to assist deaf visitors and people with disabilities. A dedicated space for the creative economy features 33 artisans selling handmade goods, including products made from the native cambuci fruit.

Sustainability and animal welfare initiatives have also been integrated into the program. Through the Tigela Cheia project, visitors exchanged PET bottles for pet food, resulting in the distribution of 300 kilograms of kibble. Additionally, a responsible adoption fair led to 11 pets finding homes, while the ChocoPaço area hosted over 100 Reiki sessions for both humans and pets.