From August 18 through August 28, the little Brazilian community of Barretos hosts one of the grandest events in the world. The Festa do Peão de Barretos features all of the excitement and thrills of PRCA rodeos in addition to having a carnival and nightly concerts. The festival coincides with the anniversary of Barretos’ founding and attracts more than one million spectators each year to the two-million-square-meter complex.
During the 1940s, cowboys from surrounding farms and ranches led herds of cattle to Barretos for slaughter. After making the trip, the cowboys gathered to demonstrate their skills amongst each other. A group of cowboys calling themselves The Independents decided to make the competition an annual event and the Festa do Peão de Barretos Rodeo was born. Today, cowboys and cowgirls from across Brazil, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and the United States come to watch or participate in the events. The Festa do Peão de Barretos Rodeo is considered the largest rodeo in Latin America. In fact, the spectacular Brazil event is only second in size compared to the competition held each year in Fort Worth, Texas.
The many competitive events include barrel racing, bulldogging, steer wrestling, team penning, and the ever-popular bull riding. The bull-riding event poses a particular challenge for the cowboys from Brazil, as they try to match or break the record held by Adriano Moraes.
In 1994, Moraes became one of four athletes in history to ride the full eight seconds on 10 consecutive bulls. Another arena within the complex is designed especially for the youth rodeo. Future cowboys and cowgirls compete in a variety of events, which include mutton bustin’.
The Festa do Peão de Barretos complex also features an abundance of shopping opportunities. Vendors offer a variety of traditional foods and beverages along with Western attire and culture-based souvenirs. Barretos is situated in the Lakes region of Brazil, which offers many different outdoor recreation options. There are hiking trails galore along with an outdoor gym and kiosks offering snacks and refreshing coconut water. Many different bars, restaurants, and shops surround the community lagoon.
Photo Credit: Festa do Peão de Barretos
Local attractions also include the Historical Museum. Guided and self-guided tours of the facility are available. The array of rare exhibits enables visitors to learn more about the cultural changes that have occurred in Barretos and the region over the centuries.
Esnar Ribeiro
A huge thank you to Esnar Ribeiro who has a passion for agriculture and all things rodeo in Brazil. Esnar has been a huge supporter of Cowboy Lifestyle Network since the beginning. He’s also currently running for Congress in Brazil.
Miss Rodeo Arizona – Kennadee Riggs
Miss Rodeo Arizona, Kennadee Riggs will be attending the Festa do Peão de Barretos Rodeo 2022. Kennadee is a member of the Cowgirls Historical Foundation, she has a passion for all things agriculture and equine. She even is bilingual, speaking English and Portuguese. Kennadee will be helping in conducting interviews with Cowboy Lifestyle Network at the Festa do Peão de Barretos Rodeo 2022. A big thank you to Kennadee for your support.
Photo Credit: Miss Rodeo Arizona
PBR Brazil National Final
The PBR Brazil National Final was held in Barretos which takes place during the Cowboy Festival of Barretos from Aug. 18-21. The event was held by Clube Os Independentes and this year completes its 65th edition. This was the fifth time that the Professional Bull Riders national championship had its decisive stage in the most famous arena in the country. Congratulations to the PBR Brazil National Champion, Cassio Dias. The champion of this year’s season, Cassio Dias received a bonus of $100,000.
PBR Brazil National Champion 2022 Cassio Dias – Photo Credit: Festa do Peão de Barretos
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