Holiday Special in Antônio Pereira

On Sunday, January 25, 2026, the district of Antônio Pereira, in Ouro Preto, experienced an unforgettable day. After three days of intense storms that battered Minas Gerais, the sun finally shone, defying all weather forecasts and illuminating the Summer Festival – Pure Fun, held at the so-called Casa Libanesa, the residence of Sandra Faria, located behind the Dona Zumbi School, next to the well-known Campo de Teco.

Culture, Inclusion, and Sustainability

The event, which brought together residents and visitors, offered a diverse and inclusive program. Early in the morning, the community was welcomed with music and dance, celebrating ancestry through dabke and belly dance.

Later, autistic children participated in sensory games and a clay workshop, as well as the activity “The Magic Lamp”, led by tourism specialist and writer Jacilene Arruda. Participant Isis symbolically received the “magic lamp,” taking on the mission of perpetuating dreams and hopes within the community.

Cricket Debut in Antônio Pereira

For the first time, the district welcomed cricket medalist Muhammad Ahsan, a PhD student in Computer Science at the Federal University of Ouro Preto. Children and adults came together to learn and practice the sport, in a moment of integration and discovery that marked local history.

Dance and Identity

Jacilene Arruda moved the audience with an impeccable performance that blended elements of Northeastern Brazilian culture, belly dance, the cossack rhythm, and dabke. Wearing a pakol – a traditional accessory gifted by Pakistani physicist Rehan Ullah, a PhD student at the Federal University of Viçosa – along with hand-embroidered dresses, she symbolized resilience and ancestry, receiving many compliments for the delicacy of the details.

Collective Lunch

The community lunch was another highlight of the festival. The menu featured sabzi (a vegetable dish of oriental origin), roti (sacred bread), and a delicious tropical fruit salad prepared by Solange Faria. Some chose to gather around the table, while others sat on the “magic carpet,” reinforcing the spirit of sharing and unity.

Stories and Closing

In the afternoon, residents shared accounts of Antônio Pereira’s history and the legendary Igreja Queimada (Burnt Church). There was also a recital of poems by the Persian mystic Rumi, which moved the audience.The event concluded with a performance by the Bloco Foliões de Antônio Pereira, who brought joy to a vibrant and popular gathering.

A New Dawn

The Summer Festival was not just a cultural event, but a milestone of integration, diversity, and spirituality. Through dances, workshops, stories, and flavors, Antônio Pereira experienced a day that planted seeds of a future more connected, inclusive, and sustainable.

Relive the best moments: check out the photographic records of the Summer Festival in Antônio Pereira.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This article was published by Poesias e Cartas,

a globally circulated magazine based in São Paulo, Brazil.