A National Grape Festival of 2024 chose “Cucagna: where to dream, to be great and to party!” as its motto, bringing scenic parades into the spotlight. Between February 15th and March 2nd, on six different occasions, the Center of Caxias do Sul (RS) will be the stage for this traditional activity, always starting at 8pm.
Approximately 1,300 people will be involved in this event, including 1,200 extras. Participation includes 51 artistic groups, 9 districts and more than 100 people in executive production, bringing together the public sector, companies and professionals from different areas. The scenic parade will feature 14 floats, including floats and mobile floats, which are being prepared in the spaces of the artists involved and also at Maesa. During the parades, the tradition of distributing bunches of grapes to the public will be maintained.
This year, one of the innovations is the original soundtrack that will guide the entire parade. Composed by musician Éder Bergozza, the soundtrack will bring to life the sound and poetic narrative of the scenes, providing viewers with the sounds of joy that inhabit the dreamlike imagery of the Grape Festival with a wealth of musical details.
The float will run along Rua Sinimbu, between Rua Alfredo Chaves and Dr. Montaury, with a concentration starting at Rua Vereador Mário Pezzi. The parades will always be preceded by the pre-parade, which starts at 7pm and features the participation of Randoncorp, the Municipal Autonomous Water and Sewage Service (Samae), the Caxias do Sul Development Company (Codeca) and the Caxiense Society of Antique Automobiles ( SCAA), among others, in addition to the performance of this year’s theme song, “Mérica”, by Éder Bergozza, performed by singers Rafa Gubert and Tita Sachet.
According to Cristina Nora Calcagnotto, Director of Culture and Parades and Municipal Secretary of Culture of Caxias do Sul, the objective is to present an interactive, festive and playful parade, promoting a greater connection between the scene and the public. “We want to bring the public, both tourists and locals, closer to our culture, in an organic way. The hug, the handshake and eye contact are actions that drive our new concept for this edition,” she says. The inspiration for the creations that will be presented during the allegorical parade comes from the 2024 theme, “Paths and places”, which appear in the dreams of migrants almost 150 years ago, in Rio Grande do Sul, who imagined a fantastic reality as an escape from hunger and the uncertainties that the crossing imposes.
To watch the parades, the public can count on the comfort of the available stands, with tickets costing R$40 (full price) or R$20 (half price) per person, which can be purchased by site da Festa da Uva. Furthermore, it is possible to attend the events for free, along Rua Sinimbu, where the organization suggests that benches or beach chairs can be taken for better accommodation.
Cars and floats will portray the immigrants’ dream
The Scenic Parade of the 2024 National Grape Festival is financed by the Federal Culture Incentive Law, with sponsorship from Bradesco, Banrisul, Postos Sim, Randoncorp, Sicredi, Marcopolo, Supermercados Andreazza, Pettenati, Vantajão and Sulgás and support from Sindigenders, Sorvelandia, Litzt Decor and Rivatti Móveis. Production is by AM9 Produções. It is carried out by the Municipal Secretariat of Culture of Caxias do Sul and the Ministry of Culture of the Federal Government.
The 34th edition of the National Grape Festival will be held between February 15th and March 3rd, 2024, at the Festa da Uva Events Park, in Caxias do Sul (RS). With the theme “Paths and Places”, the event is part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Italians in Serra Gaúcha.
Check out the schedule of scenic parades for the 34th edition of the National Grape Festival:
- February 15th (Thursday): Opening of the Party
- February 17th (Saturday)
- February 21st (Wednesday)
- February 25th (domingo)
- February 28th (Wednesday)
- March 2nd (Saturday): Closing
*In case of rain and need to cancel, two new dates are available for new parades: February 23rd (Friday) and March 3rd (Sunday)
Datasheet:
- President of the Grape Festival 2024 Community Committee: Fernando Bertotto
- Director of Culture and Parades: Cristina Nora Calcagnotto
- General direction: Cristina Nora Calcagnotto, Fábio Schmidt, Magali Quadros and Maysa Stedile
- Scenic Direction, Conception and Script: Fábio Cuelli
- Casting Direction: Maysa Stedile
- Scenic Movement Coordination: Akácio Camargo, Paula Giusto and Márcia Teixeira
- Costume Design: Francile Hermoza and Leonardo Lima
- Executive production: Fábio Schmidt
- District Coordination and Logistics: Cleri Pelizza
- Advice: Karen Leitão Sbabo
- Original Soundtrack Composition: Éder Bergozza
- Design of Floats:
- Project: Roberta Tiburri – Ephemeral Architecture
- Collaborator: Arq. Rafael S. Baumann
- Stage Lighting Design and Technical Coordination of Cars and Allegories: Luiz Francisco da Silva Acosta
- Technical assistance: Gustavo de Carli and Guilherme Montanari
- Execution of Chariots and Allegories: Ana Selma Chiaradia, Gnatta Studios 3d i, Molhados na Chuva Produções and Naza Bonecos
- Music-theme: “Mérica”, by Éder Bergozza
- Interpreters: Rafa Gubert and Tita Sachet
- Production: AM9 Productions
- Financing: Federal Culture Incentive Law
- Sponsorship: Bradesco, Banrisul, Posto Sim, Randoncorp, Sicredi, Marcopolo, Supermercados Andreazza, Pettenati Vantajão and Sulgás
- Support: Sindigeneros, Sorvelandia, Lizt Decor and Rivatti Móveis
- Realization: Municipal Secretariat of Culture of Caxias do Sul and Ministry of Culture of the Federal Government