Festa de Santo Antônio 2022 in Santa Bárbara, MG

After a two-year break, joy and tradition once again took over Santa Bárbara with the 2022 Festa de Santo Antônio (Feast of Saint Anthony). The event marked the return of in-person celebrations and commemorated a decade since the festival was registered as the town's Intangible and Cultural Heritage, a historic milestone for the town and the whole Serra do Caraça region.

From June 8 to 13, the Praça da Estação (Station Square) became a big arraial (June festival party), bringing residents and visitors together for nights full of music, faith and traditional food. The festival revived the essence of June celebrations and reinforced the sense of belonging of the people of Santa Bárbara.

Promoted by the Santa Bárbara City Hall, through the Department of Culture and Tourism Development, the 2022 edition reaffirmed the town's commitment to valuing folk traditions, local artists and cultural tourism in the Serra do Caraça.

There were six days of intense activity, with artistic performances, themed stalls and religious moments that moved the public and celebrated the community's reunion with its history.

The Festival Returns: Music and Emotion at the Arraial

The official opening took place on Wednesday, June 8, in an atmosphere of emotion and reunion. After two years away due to the pandemic, the Praça da Estação once again came alive with music and the joy of the people. Singer Fernando Augusto opened the stage with MPB (Brazilian popular music) classics, delighting the audience with his voice and strong presence.

Right after, Ingrid Leonara brought her infectious energy, entertaining the night with sofrência and sertanejo hits and getting everyone dancing under the starry sky of the Serra do Caraça.

The next day, Thursday (9th), the festival took on new rhythms and sounds. The group Mestre Peta e a Estrondosa gave a performance full of percussion and identity, taking the audience on a journey through Brazilian folk culture.

Closing the night, renowned musician Toninho Horta, a former member of the legendary Clube da Esquina, took the stage with Petrônio Souza for a poetry and music soirée, one of the most moving moments of the 2022 edition.

These first performances set the tone for the festival: a mix of art, tradition and joy that only Santa Bárbara — the heart of the Serra do Caraça — can offer.

Musical Diversity and Local Talent

On Friday, June 10, local talent took over the stage. The duo Hebert e Gabriele opened the night with a lively sertanejo repertoire, followed by Washington e Waldomiro, who delighted the audience with modas de viola and traditional country songs.

The night had a relaxed atmosphere of belonging, with the Santa Bárbara audience turning out to support local artists. The event reinforced the Festa de Santo Antônio's commitment to culture and to supporting local musicians, key pillars for strengthening the artistic scene of the Serra do Caraça.

On Saturday, June 11, the pace picked up. Banda Manguacêra brought authentic northeastern forró, mixing irreverence and tradition. Then Clever Paulo closed the night with great charisma and a repertoire ranging from sertanejo to popular music, pleasing every generation present.

These nights reaffirmed the diverse character of the festival, where different styles come together with the same purpose: to celebrate the culture, music and identity of Santa Bárbara.

Closing with Faith, Joy and Tradition

The last days of the event — Sunday (12th) and Monday (13th) — featured a vibrant, emotional program.

On Sunday, the public enjoyed the band Logan, followed by the infectious forró of Chama Chuva, which kept the Praça da Estação dancing from start to finish. The night also featured singer Walmir Alencar and the Grupo Adoração e Vida, who provided a closing full of spirituality, faith and emotion.

On Monday, June 13, the day dedicated to the patron saint, Saint Anthony, the event reached its high point. The public took part in moments of devotion, prayer and thanksgiving, symbolizing the union of the sacred and the popular — the essence that makes this festival a living heritage of Santa Bárbara's culture.

For many, closing the 2022 edition was more than a celebration: it was a reunion with hope and with the traditions that strengthen the Santa Bárbara community and the whole Serra do Caraça region.

Flavors of Tradition: The June Food Stalls

One of the big attractions of the 2022 Festa de Santo Antônio was the traditional food stalls, which warmed the cold June nights with irresistible flavors.

Visitors to the Praça da Estação could enjoy traditional dishes such as feijão-tropeiro, galinhada (chicken and rice), arroz carreteiro (rice with dried beef), pastéis, broths and a variety of sweets, as well as the classic quentão (hot spiced cachaça), a must at any Minas Gerais June festival.

The stalls, organized in partnership with local associations and organizations, generated income, boosted the economy and strengthened the sense of community. Every dish served carried the flavor of tradition and the care of Santa Bárbara hands.

These food spaces became true meeting points, where families and friends gathered to celebrate the flavors, culture and joy of living in the Serra do Caraça.

Culture, Heritage and Sustainable Development

The 2022 Festa de Santo Antônio was especially significant because it celebrated 10 years since the event was registered as Intangible and Cultural Heritage, made official by Municipal Decree No. 2329/2012.

This achievement represents recognition of the festival's historic importance for Santa Bárbara and reinforces the town's role in preserving Minas Gerais folk culture.

Besides its cultural value, the event was aligned with the Culture secondary pillar of Gestão 5.0 and with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 11, which address Decent Work and Economic Growth and Sustainable Cities and Communities.

The festival thus reaffirmed its role not only as an event of faith and joy but also as a tool for social, economic and tourism development, strengthening the cultural legacy of the Serra do Caraça and positioning Santa Bárbara as a center of tradition and cultural innovation.