Festa de Santo Antônio 2017 in Santa Bárbara, MG

In 2017, the town of Santa Bárbara enjoyed days of pure joy, faith and tradition with the Festa de Santo Antônio (Feast of Saint Anthony) and 5th Winter Festival, an event that brought together culture, food and religion in one place.

From June 4 to 13, the Historic Center welcomed thousands of people to celebrate the town's patron saint in great style. The food stalls full of traditional treats, the shows by local and guest artists and the school quadrilhas (square dances) created a welcoming, family atmosphere that reaffirmed the festival's importance on the cultural calendar of the Serra do Caraça.

The 2017 edition was marked by a new format and venue, establishing the festival as one of the largest popular events in the region. The carefully planned program combined artistic performances, religious expression and plenty of music, turning Santa Bárbara into a center of culture and tourism during the ten days of celebration.

Opening with Quadrilhas and Local Shows

The festival began amid great excitement on Sunday, June 4, with the traditional APAE quadrilha, which moved the audience with its joy and inclusion. Then the duo Gunther e Helder took the stage, livening up the first night with big sertanejo hits.

On Monday, June 5, the program continued with performances by the Adélia Hosken Ayres and Iveta Moreira Novais municipal schools, which delighted the audience with traditional June festival choreography. The night ended to the sound of Banda Luxford, whose high-energy repertoire won over the crowd.

These first two days showed that the Festa de Santo Antônio and the Winter Festival are more than simple celebrations — they are expressions of love and pride in local culture that involve the whole Serra do Caraça community.

School Tradition and Regional Music

On Tuesday, June 6, the Irmã Amandina Maria and Marphiza Magalhães Santos schools put on a lively, creative show with their quadrilhas. The night took on a special tone with singer Flavinho Caldeira, who brought regional songs and a Minas Gerais touch to the celebration.

On Wednesday, June 7, the public watched the performance by the Colégio Municipal Afonso Pena (Comap), followed by a lively show by singer Cristiane Silva, who got the crowd going with her stage presence and danceable repertoire.

On Thursday, June 8, the Chico Severino school and Colégio Educare, from Barão de Cocais, delighted the audience with performances full of June festival joy. The duo Zezé e Nenzinho closed the night with a show full of sertanejo hits, establishing the festival as a meeting of generations and styles.

These days reinforced the role of schools in preserving popular culture, keeping the quadrilha tradition alive and strengthening the bond between the towns of the Serra do Caraça region.

A Weekend of Big Attractions

The weekend was the high point of the festival. On Friday, June 9, the Centro Educacional Cecília Meireles delighted the audience with artistic performances, followed by a vibrant show by the duo Paulo e Gabriel.

On Saturday, June 10, the Afonso Pena State School presented its traditional quadrilha, and the night ended with a show by Jeff e Alex, who entertained the crowd with forró and sertanejo.

Sunday, June 11, was dedicated to tradition and dance. The São Gererê quadrilha, from Belo Horizonte, gave an infectious performance, drawing applause from the Santa Bárbara audience. Then singer Camila Callais and her band closed the night with plenty of energy and charisma.

These moments of integration and folk culture showed how the Festa de Santo Antônio brings together people from across the Serra do Caraça region, celebrating Minas Gerais identity and talent.

Father Juarez de Castro and an Encounter with Faith

On Monday, June 12, the eve of the patron saint's day, the event welcomed one of its most eagerly awaited attractions: Father Juarez de Castro. Known throughout Brazil for his Catholic music, the priest delighted the audience with a show of faith, charisma and emotion.

Born in Lavras, Father Juarez is a singer, writer and TV host, and was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Christian music category for the album "Deus Está Aqui". In Santa Bárbara, he not only performed on the main stage but also celebrated Mass at the Mother Church of Santo Antônio, bringing messages of hope and spirituality to the faithful.

The night was full of emotional moments, hymns and prayers. At the end of the show, the audience lined up to greet the priest, ending the penultimate day of the festival with hearts full of faith and gratitude.

Closing with Lunch and a Mix of Flavors

The last day of the program, June 13, was dedicated to the traditional Saint Anthony's Lunch, held at noon with a typically Minas Gerais menu. Each stall served a variety of dishes prepared by local organizations and families, with home-style seasoning and Santa Bárbara hospitality in the spotlight.

While the public enjoyed the food, Banda Mistura do Samba livened up the afternoon with a cheerful, popular repertoire, closing the ten days of celebration in an atmosphere of fellowship.

The new layout and the venue set up at the Praça da Matriz (Mother Church Square) were widely approved by the public, who praised the organization, safety and comfort throughout the event.

The 2017 edition was a real success and showed the potential of the Festa de Santo Antônio and the Winter Festival as tools for promoting tourism, the local economy and the regional culture of the Serra do Caraça.

Tradition and Cultural Development

Combining music, food and faith, the 2017 Festa de Santo Antônio reaffirmed Santa Bárbara's role as a cultural reference in the Médio Piracicaba region. The event showed that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand, strengthening local identity and sustainable economic development.

During ten days of celebration, the Historic Center became a meeting point between past and present, where every song, traditional dish and prayer reinforced the pride of belonging to the land of Saint Anthony — a living heritage of the Serra do Caraça.