Festas Juninas

During the month of June, the churches and parishes of São Paulo come to life. Streets and plazas are closed off. The festa junina (June Festival), a celebration of the three patron saints of the month – St. Anthony, St. John and St. Peter – is here.

Originally an import from Portugal, the celebration was gradually ‘Brazilianised’ with colourful banners, booths selling typical provincial fare and carnival games, turning it into an annual national tradition. The festivities also include square dancing, or quadrilha, which originated in France (who would have guessed?) but was spiced up, tropicalised and appropriated to suit the Brazilian masses.

The festivities are a chance for tourists and paulistanos alike to get a taste of the rest of São Paulo state, forever in the shadow of the big city. We’ve rounded up the most original city festivals, so put on your overalls and get out there, partner!

Festas by area: East Zone | West Zone | Centro | South Zone | North Zone
 

East Zone

One of the most traditional festas juninas in the city is Santo Antônio do Pari. In addition to the many hillbilly attractions, the celebration has a special programme that begins with a procession and ends with the assembly of a three-ton cake in homage to St. Anthony, the matchmaker saint. Getting yourself a piece of the cake really is a miracle – as you’ll see, there are a staggering number of ladies convinced that they need a bite if they ever want to get married.

Over in Mooca, one of São Paulo’s main Italian strongholds, the saints’ days are also commemorated with food festivals. Don’t miss the hot mulled wine from the São Pedro parish, the calzone from the São Miguel parish and the pasta dish from the São Rafael parish.

• 98th Festa de Santo Antônio do Pari
  Praça Padre Bento 13, Pari, (11) 3311 0455
  5-11pm 10, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 June and 1 July.
  Read more about the Festa
  
  
• 41st Festa Junina da Paróquia São Pedro Apóstolo de Vila Oratório
  Rua Ibitinga 838, Mooca, (11) 2965 4127, igrejasaopedro.org.br
  6-10pm 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30 June; 3-10pm 29 June.
  
  
• Festa Junina da Paróquia São Miguel Arcanjo
  Rua Sapucaia, near 172, Mooca, (11) 2692 6798, oarcanjo.net
  6-11pm, 23 June; noon-10pm 24 June.
  
  
• 41st Festa Junina da Paróquia São Rafael
  Largo São Rafael, Mooca, (11) 2292 4528, paroquiasaorafael.org.br
  6-11pm 10, 23, 24, 30 June and 1 July.
  
  

West Zone

Like any other serious celebration, the Quermesse do Calvário festival has an expansive multitude of stalls selling typical junina food and beverages. But, in addition to the traditional corn and peanut delights, this festival also serves typical Brazilian foods such as acarajé from Bahia, pamonha (corn paste wrapped in husks) and cural (sweet corn dessert), a traditional Minas Gerais speciality. Probably best to skip lunch.

• Quermesse do Calvário
  Rua Cardeal Arcoverde 950, Pinheiros, (11) 3085 1307, paroquiadocalvario.org.br
  5.30-11.30pm 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 June and 1, 7, 8 July. R$10.
  
  

Centro

Quermesse da Paróquia Nossa Senhora da Consolação parish is a great option for a family outing with game stalls and light-hearted fare like correio elegante (where you can write a love note, to be delivered anonymously), and Nossa Senhora Achiropita parish’s party has been so successful in years past that they now hold it in a larger indoor space.

Another huge area – the Minhocão raised expressway – is home to BaixoCentro’s festa junina. Besides the usual food, the festival includes storytelling, street performers, a tribute to songwriter Luiz Gonzaga’s centenary and a collective wedding.

• Quermesse da Paróquia Nossa Senhora da Consolação
  Rua da Consolação 585, Consolação, (11) 3256 5356.
  6pm-midnight 16, 23, 30 June; 6-11pm 17, 24 June and 1 July.
  
  
• Festa Junina da Paróquia Nossa Senhora Achiropita
  Rua 13 de Maio 478, Bela Vista, (11) 3106 7235, achiropita.org.br
  8pm 22 June; 10am 23 June.
   
• Festa Junina do Minhocão BaixoCentro
  Minhocão expressway between Santa Cecilia and Marechal Deodoro metrô stations, baixocentro.org
  3-10pm 1 July. 
  Read more about the festa on the Minhocão
   

South Zone

The São Judas parish’s festival, further down south by Congonhas airport, is made special by the students of the church’s school who perform shows with singing, dancing and live music.

• Festa Junina do Instituto Meninos de São Judas Tadeu
  Avenida Itacira 2801, Planalto Paulista, (11) 5586 8666, imsjt.org.br
  11am-9pm 10, 17 and 24 June.
  
  

North Zone

The Sarau Junino is held in a a theatre with the capacity for 400 people, lending a nightclub atmosphere to the festivities. The event features a play, and a forró show by the band Trio Virgulino.

If you’re looking for a more authentic experience, the Nossa Senhora da Candelária parish offers traditinal quentão (hot mulled rum), caldo verde (green cabbage stew) and pé de moleque (roasted peanuts with condensed milk), but they stay innovative and keep things lively by installing a temporary amusement park in the square.

• Sarau Junino with Trio Virgulino
  Avenida Deputado Emílio Carlos 3641, Vila Nova Cachoeirinha, (11) 3984 2466, ccjuve.prefeitura.sp.gov.br
  4-5pm 24 June.
  
• 78th Festa Junina da Paróquia Nossa Senhora da Candelária
  Praça Nossa Senhora da Candelária 1, Vila Maria, (11) 2954 3566, candelaria.org.br
  5-11pm 10, 23, 24, 30 June and 1 July.