After a five-year hiatus, the district of Vila Seca, in Caxias do Sul, will once again celebrate the Pinhão Festival this Saturday (15.07). The event, which values local culture and tourism, was postponed last week because of bad weather, but is now confirmed with a series of attractions for visitors.
The Pinhão Festival started in 2008, on the initiative of a group of residents of Vila Seca, who wanted to take advantage of the potential of the Araucaria tree, typical of the region, to promote the district. The event was also a way to celebrate the Vila Seca District Week, which takes place in July. The party was held annually until 2016, but then faced difficulties in support and resources, in addition to the restrictions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic.
This year, with the support of the subprefecture, the Associação Pró-Desenvolvimento de Vila Seca and the Secretariat of Tourism, the party will be resumed in a more streamlined format, but no less lively. The program will be concentrated in the district’s lace field, where there will be a country lunch, Creole mass, pine nut tasting, handicraft fair, contests and shows.
Horseback riding and country lunch
The party starts at 8 am with a horseback ride that will leave the CTG Porteira da Amizade and go around the Mulada dam, one of the postcards of Vila Seca. The riders are expected to arrive at the rodeo court at 11:30 am, where the official opening of the event will take place.
Afterwards, the campeiro lunch will be served, at the price of R$ 30 per person. The menu includes feijoada, rice, pine nut paçoca and meat with potatoes. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the subprefecture or on site.
cultural attractions
After lunch, there will be a Creole mass in the court of lace, celebrated by Father Renato Ariotti. Visitors will also be able to taste cooked and freshly roasted pine nuts, in addition to other typical delicacies from the region.
The cultural program will feature presentations by students from Érico Veríssimo Municipal School, who will show their talents in music and dance. There will also be contests for the biggest pine cone and the biggest pine nut, and a handicraft fair with products made by the residents of the district.
To close the party, there will be concerts with local artists, such as the group Os Mateadores and singer Rodrigo Munari. Admission is free and open to the public.
According to deputy mayor Sandro Camargo, this year’s edition is a way to rescue the tradition of the Pinhão Festival and prepare the ground for 2024, when the event will return to its original format, with 10 days of activities. The party is included in the Official Calendar of the Municipality since 2019.
