Festa da Quitanda and Festival da Goiabada 2018 in Cocais, MG

7th Festa da Quitanda and 6th Festival da Goiabada

On May 5 and 6, 2018, the charming Colonial Village of Cocais, in Barão de Cocais, welcomed thousands of visitors to the 7th Festa da Quitanda and 6th Festival da Goiabada (quitandas are traditional homemade baked goods; goiabada is guava paste). The event, already established on the town's cultural calendar, is one of the main culinary expressions of the Serra do Caraça, bringing together tradition, flavors and hospitality in a historic, welcoming setting.

Promoted by the Barão de Cocais City Hall, through the Departments of Culture and Tourism and Economic Development, the festival had the support of Emater-MG, the Rural Producers' Union, the Cocais Community Association, the Association of Family Farmers of Barão de Cocais and Region, the Rural Workers' Union and the company Ônix Minérios. The event aims to value, preserve and promote the culinary art of Barão de Cocais, with the spotlight on quitandas and Goiabada Cascão, recognized as Intangible Heritage of Barão de Cocais.

Tradition and Hospitality of the Serra do Caraça

The 2018 edition showed once again why Cocais is known as the "Land of Quitanda". For two days, the Praça do Rosário was filled with the aroma of breads, cakes, broas and biscuits made by local quitandeiras. The variety of flavors delighted tourists from many parts of Minas Gerais, other states and even abroad — including visitors from Austria, who were charmed by the warmth and traditional cooking of the Serra do Caraça.

The official opening took place on Saturday morning with the traditional Open Workshop – How to Make Goiabada Cascão, followed by a performance by the Maestro Yolando dos Santos Children's Choir. That same day, the 5th Junior Quitandeiros Contest delighted the audience, revealing the talent of the new generation. The evening featured the MPB Almanaque show and, to close Saturday, the lively Forró Zabumbeia got everyone dancing.

Ecological Walk and Open-Air Culture

Sunday began with the "Rotas Cocais" Ecological Walk, a 7 km route organized by guide João Lima, which took about 60 participants through the trails, waterfalls and natural landscapes of the Serra do Caraça region. After the walk, the public was welcomed with a Café na Praça (coffee in the square), with treats made from local family-farm ingredients.

The morning continued with the Parade-Show of the Banda Musical Santa Cecília, conducted by Maestro Alexandre Lacerda, moving residents and visitors with popular music classics. The afternoon program featured the Quitanda Contest Awards and performances by the groups Samba na Sola and Forró de Saia, ensuring joy and fun until the end of the event.

Award-Winning Flavors and Recognized Tradition

The 7th Quitanda Contest brought together 30 participants and 71 different recipes, in the categories Breads and Quecas, Cakes and Pies, and Biscuits, Ring Cookies and Small Cookies. Each quitanda was judged by a panel of representatives from institutions such as IMA, Emater, the Santa Bárbara City Hall and the Catas Altas Department of Agriculture, who assessed presentation, originality, flavor and aroma.

The big winners of the edition were:

• Breads and Quecas Category: 1st place – Maria Rita de Alcântara Martins (Raspa de Laranja – orange zest bread)

• Cakes and Pies Category: 1st place – Carmem Gonçalves de Freitas Nascimento (Queijadinha com Goiaba – cheese tart with guava)

• Biscuits and Ring Cookies Category: 1st place – Andréia Francisca de Freitas Souza (Bronzeado de Rapadura – brown sugar biscuit)

In the junior contest, young Vitor Silva took 1st place with his Crocante de Cebola (onion crisp), followed by Ítalo Gomes with Bolo de Farinha de Milho (cornmeal cake) and David Fernandes with Romeu & Julieta (cheese and guava paste). The winners received cash prizes, and their recipes became a symbol of the new generation of quitandeiros of the Serra do Caraça.

Decorated Stalls and Creativity in the Spotlight

The decoration of the stalls was also judged by the organizing committee, rewarding creativity and the use of rustic, traditional elements. Stall No. 02, run by Andréia Freitas, Conceição Souza and Juliana Santos, was voted the best decorated, winning over the public with its beauty and originality.

These details reinforce the handmade character of the Festa da Quitanda — an event where every corner, every stall and every recipe is made with love and dedication. The prizes were presented by Mayor Décio Santos, the Secretary and representatives of Emater, the Rural Workers' Union and the Department of Economic Development.

Tradition, Recognition and Local Development

In his speech, Mayor Décio Santos highlighted the festival's role in promoting the local economy and valuing traditions:

"The Festa da Quitanda is one of the greatest cultural expressions of our town. Besides promoting our culinary and tourist riches, it helps keep alive the art of our quitandeiras, who are the heart of the Serra do Caraça."

The Secretary of Culture and Tourism stressed the importance of the event:

"Our goal is to make Barão de Cocais a reference in traditional cuisine. The quitandeiras represent the essence of simplicity, dedication and quality that so delight visitors."

Agronomist Rejane Mendes, from Emater-MG, added:

"The quitandeiras and family farmers are the true stars of this festival. They turn simple ingredients into unforgettable flavors, strengthening tourism and local culture."

With so many stories, flavors and aromas, the Festa da Quitanda and Festival da Goiabada continues to establish itself as one of the main cultural and tourist events of the Serra do Caraça, preserving what is most genuine in Minas Gerais identity.