Festa de Santo Antônio 2019 in Santa Bárbara, MG

The Festa de Santo Antônio (Feast of Saint Anthony) is one of the oldest and best-loved traditions of Santa Bárbara, bringing together faith, culture and plenty of joy. Held in the town's Historic Center — where devotion to the patron saint began —, the 2019 edition had a vibrant program that energized the whole community and visitors from the Serra do Caraça region.

From June 7 to 13, the event offered a true immersion in Minas Gerais June festival traditions, with music, quadrilhas (square dances), traditional food and religious celebrations. The typical cold of the season was warmed by sertanejo, forró and Santa Bárbara hospitality, which turned the Historic Center into a big arraial (June festival party).

Promoted by the City Hall and the Department of Culture and Tourism Development, the 2019 Festa de Santo Antônio reaffirmed its role as intangible heritage and a reference for preserving Santa Bárbara's cultural identity.

Opening and First Days of the Festival

The program began on Friday, June 7, with the traditional opening of the food stalls, offering typical June festival food and drinks. Then students from the Irmã Amandina Maria Municipal School delighted the audience with the project "Poesia Vai à Rua" (Poetry Takes to the Streets), combining literature, music and folk art.

The night ended with a show by the Santa Bárbara duo Denner e Kauã, who entertained the crowd with big sertanejo universitário hits, kicking off a week of celebration and joy.

On Saturday, June 8, things heated up with the award-winning Quadrilha Fogo de Palha, champion of the Arraial de Belô 2018, which put on a show of dance, color and tradition. Then singer Clever Paulo serenaded the audience with the best of moda de viola (traditional country guitar music), ending the night with a show full of energy and country roots.

These first days showed that the Festa de Santo Antônio is much more than an event: it is a celebration of the living culture of the Serra do Caraça, where music, faith and community life come together in a unique way.

A Sunday of Bands and a Meeting of Generations

Sunday, June 9, was one of the most moving moments of the edition. In the morning, the Corporação Musical Santo Antônio (town band) organized the traditional Band Gathering, bringing together 15 bands from many towns in the region, such as Engenheiro Caldas, Piranga, Itabira, São Domingos do Prata, Catas Altas and others.

The performances filled the Historic Center with melodies honoring Saint Anthony and Minas Gerais musical culture. The audience cheered this union of tradition and art, a true demonstration of the talent and passion that drive the town bands.

In the evening, the festival continued with busy stalls and a friendly atmosphere among families and friends. Performances by the Municipal School Network, followed by the musical "Mestres do Sertão" (Masters of the Backlands), led by maestro Gilson Silva and the Estação da Música Orchestra, closed the day masterfully.

The show featured special guests Trio de 2 and singer Bruhna Felipe, moving the audience with arrangements blending traditional sertanejo, viola caipira and orchestra.

Shows, Quadrilhas and the Joy of the People of Santa Bárbara

On Monday, June 10, singer Ingrid Leonara took over the stage, warming up the cold night with a repertoire of big sertanejo hits, including Evidências, Homem de Família and songs by Jorge & Mateus and Naiara Azevedo.

Besides the show, the audience enjoyed performances by the Marphiza Magalhães Santos and Chico Severino municipal schools, whose quadrilhas were full of color, choreography and creativity.

On Tuesday, June 11, composer and producer Elizeu Gomes presented the project "Ciclo Cênico Musical – Arte em Movimento" (Art in Motion), a touring show combining instrumental music and theater, sponsored by Cenibra through the Federal Culture Incentive Law.

The night also featured the quadrilha of Colégio Educare, from Barão de Cocais, which entertained the audience with an infectious performance. These moments reaffirmed the strength of art and education as pillars of the Festa de Santo Antônio, establishing Santa Bárbara as one of the most significant cultural centers of the Serra do Caraça.

Flavors and Traditions: The "Sabores de Santo Antônio" Contest

In 2019, the festival introduced a new feature that won over the public's taste buds: the "Sabores de Santo Antônio" (Flavors of Saint Anthony) food contest. For the first time, the stalls competed in a cooking contest in which the required ingredient was cheese and/or honey — two symbols of Minas Gerais cuisine and the Serra do Caraça.

The local organizations taking part were: Pastoral Familiar, Aart, Rever, Assanbloc, Apae and Clube da Melhor Idade Florescer. Each presented an original dish, combining creativity and tradition.

The competing dishes were:

• Sweet Pork with Farofa – Pastoral Familiar

• Cheese Fritters – Aart

• Pasta in White Sauce with Cheese – Rever

• Santo Porco Melado (honey-glazed pork) – Assanbloc

• Special Honey and Banana Pastel – Apae

• Honey Ribs with Cassava and Cheese – Clube da Melhor Idade Florescer

After a close and tasty contest, the winner was the Sweet Pork with Farofa, from Pastoral Familiar, followed by the Honey Ribs (Florescer) and Santo Porco Melado (Assanbloc).

The contest was a success and showed Santa Bárbara's culinary potential, combining food, creativity and regional identity in a unique Serra do Caraça experience.

Closing with Forró and Spirituality

Wednesday, June 12, was Brazil's Valentine's Day (Dia dos Namorados) — and forró took over the Praça da Estação. The main attraction was the band Bicho de Pé, who got the crowd dancing to xotes and baiões such as Nosso Xote, Que Seja and Deu Bom.

Students from APAE also took part with a lovely June performance, moving the audience and reinforcing the inclusive character of the festival. The night became a true "Saint Anthony arrasta-pé" (forró dance party), bringing generations together in a joyful, friendly atmosphere.

On the last day, June 13, the patron saint's day, the event began with the traditional Saint Anthony's Lunch, followed by a show by Adriana Arydes, one of the greatest voices in Brazilian Catholic music.

With songs such as Lindo Céu, Humano Amor de Deus and Qual é a Chave?, Adriana moved the audience and closed the 2019 edition with a show of faith, devotion and hope.

It was seven unforgettable days that reinforced the value of popular culture, the importance of religion and the pride of belonging to the Serra do Caraça region, where tradition and modernity meet in perfect harmony.