Festival Sabores do Morro 2017 in Morro D'Água Quente, MG

In December 2017, the district of Morro D'Água Quente once again hosted gatherings, flavors and music, consolidating an initiative that had already made its mark the year before. The 2nd Festival Sabores do Morro (Flavors of the Morro Festival) reinforced the role of food as a link between culture, local identity and community development.

Held amid the landscapes surrounding the Serra do Caraça, the event brought together residents, visitors and tourists for two days of intense activity. The aim was to broaden the festival experience, further combining artisanal cooking with cultural and musical attractions.

The 2017 edition stood out for its balance between tradition and innovation. While keeping its roots in local production, the festival began to engage new audiences, drawn by the variety of food and the strong presence of live music.

The 2nd Festival Sabores do Morro thus confirmed that Morro D'Água Quente, a district of the town of Catas Altas, had become an important cultural meeting point in the Serra do Caraça region.

The festival establishes itself on the local calendar

After the success of the first edition, the 2017 festival arrived with a more structured, confident approach. The experience gained made it possible to improve the organization, expand partnerships and offer a more varied program.

The event took place on December 9 and 10, next to the Senhor do Bonfim Church, a symbolic place in Morro D'Água Quente. The venue reinforced the connection between the community's history and the festival's cultural and culinary activities.

Over the two days, residents and visitors moved freely among stalls, workshops, musical performances and cultural activities. The warm, family atmosphere remained one of the hallmarks of Sabores do Morro.

Becoming part of the local calendar strengthened the community's sense of belonging and increased the district's visibility on tourist routes linked to the Serra do Caraça.

Artisanal food and an open kitchen

Food remained the backbone of the 2nd Festival Sabores do Morro. The artisanal products reflected the community's traditional know-how, with recipes that value regional ingredients and cooking methods handed down through generations.

Minas Gerais quitandas (homemade baked goods), homemade sweets, jabuticaba products, cheeses, honey and other delicacies were part of the Sabores do Morro Fair, which ran throughout the event. The variety of flavors reinforced the district's culinary identity.

One of the highlights of the edition was the open kitchen, which offered cooking workshops to the public. In these activities, guest chefs and local producers shared techniques, recipes and experiences related to Minas Gerais cooking and the mindful use of food.

The workshops brought visitors and the community closer, creating moments of shared learning and reinforcing the festival as a space for exchange, cultural appreciation and food education.

Music, culture and audience engagement

In 2017, music gained even more space at the Festival Sabores do Morro. The program featured rock and blues shows, creating an interesting dialogue between traditional food and contemporary musical styles.

Artists such as André Busker, Engenheiros do Uai and the band Stallions entertained the audience over the weekend, with performances spread across Saturday and Sunday. The shows were scheduled at strategic times, blending naturally with the other activities of the event.

Besides the musical performances, the festival featured cultural activities for different audiences, including families and children. This diversity helped create an inclusive, accessible atmosphere.

The combination of good music, artisanal food and the natural setting of the Serra do Caraça made the festival a complete experience, able to please a wide range of audiences.

Tourism, landscape and regional identity

Morro D'Água Quente enjoys a privileged location, surrounded by mountains, streams and the typical landscapes of the Serra do Caraça area. During the festival, this natural setting became an essential part of the visitors' experience.

Its proximity to established tourist destinations, such as the Caraça Sanctuary, reinforced the district's potential as a stop on regional itineraries. Many visitors took advantage of the event to explore the region.

The 2nd Festival Sabores do Morro contributed directly to strengthening this integration of culture, tourism and the local economy. By valuing the products and know-how of Morro D'Água Quente, the event helped position the district as a destination for authentic experiences.

This connection between landscape, food and cultural identity established the festival as a showcase of the social and environmental richness of the Serra do Caraça region.

Impact and continuity of the project

More than a one-off event, the 2017 festival reaffirmed the positive impact of the Sabores do Morro project on community life. Income generation remained an important result, but not the only one.

Gains in self-esteem, collective organization and outside recognition further strengthened local producers. The festival became a source of pride for the district.

New partnerships and greater regional visibility opened up new possibilities for selling the artisanal products and for continuing the activities throughout the year.

The 2nd Festival Sabores do Morro thus confirmed that the initiative had moved beyond the experimental phase, becoming a key part of the cultural and economic history of Morro D'Água Quente, in the Serra do Caraça region.