Festa do Peao de Barretos 2025: Brazil's Cowboy Festival
- Rachel
- Jul 17
- 7 min read
The Festa do Peao de Barretos, Latin America's largest and most iconic rodeo festival, is set to celebrate its 70th edition from 21-31 August 2025.
Held in Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil, this event attracts nearly one million attendees every year. The festival includes a mix of rodeo competitions, music performances, and other cultural events.
Planning to attend Festa do Peao? > Book your accommodation in Barretos early as prices will rise > Find cheap bus tickets to Barretos
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History of Festa do Peao de Barretos
The Festa do Peão de Barretos was first held in 1956, organized by a group of local young men who called themselves "Os Independentes" (The Independents). Their goal was to promote and celebrate the lifestyle and skills of Brazil’s rural cattle herders, or peões, who played a crucial role in the economy and culture of the interior. The early editions of the festival were modest, held in makeshift arenas with local participants.
Over the decades, the event expanded both in scale and reputation, transforming into one of the largest rodeo festivals in Latin America. It became not only a celebration of rodeo sports but also a broader cultural event encompassing sertanejo music concerts, traditional cuisine, and more. The introduction of international competitors and partnerships with global rodeo organisations like the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) brought global recognition.
Where is Festa do Peão held?
Festa do Peão is held in the city of Barretos, located in the northern part of the state of São Paulo, about 430 kilometers (270 miles) from the city of São Paulo. Once a major cattle-ranching hub, Barretos has long been associated with Brazil’s sertanejo (country) culture. The city's cowboy heritage is on display year-round, with landmarks like the Monumento ao Peão (Cowboy Monument) and the Museu do Peão (Cowboy Museum) preserving Brazil’s rural history and traditions.
Since 1985, the Festa do Peão de Barretos has been held at Parque do Peão, a huge 2-million-square-meter complex located just outside the city center. The venue was designed and purpose-built by Brazil’s most iconic architect, Oscar Niemeyer. Its centerpiece is a 35,000-seat rodeo stadium, one of the largest in Latin America, which features grandstands, VIP boxes, press areas, and an enormous LED screen to broadcast the events. The complex also includes campgrounds, exhibition pavilions, food courts, stables, and more, allowing it to function like a self-contained city during the festival.
The Rodeo Competitions at Festa do Peao
At the heart of the Festa do Peão de Barretos are the adrenaline filled rodeo competitions, which take place in the massive Estádio de Rodeios, a 35,000-seat arena specifically built for the event. These contests are inspired by American rodeo traditions but infused with Brazilian tradition. The events aim to showcase the strength, skill, and courage of the peões (cowboys) and peoas (cowgirls).
Bull Riding (Montaria em Touros): This is the most popular and high-stakes event of the festival. Cowboys must stay mounted on a bucking bull for at least 8 seconds, using only one hand to grip a braided rope tied around the animal. Judges score each ride based on the rider’s control and style as well as the bull’s performance and intensity. Riders are disqualified if they touch the bull or themselves with their free hand or if they fall off before the 8-second mark. Barretos is known for attracting top riders from Brazil, the U.S., Mexico, and Australia, and many are part of the PBR circuit.
Bareback Bronc Riding (Montaria em Cavalo Estilo Livre): In this event, riders must stay on a bucking horse without a saddle, using only a rigging—a handle made of leather. The goal is to maintain rhythm and balance while the horse attempts to throw the rider off. The ride is also scored out of 100, with 50 points possible for the rider and 50 for the horse’s bucking performance.
Barrel Racing (Provas de Três Tambores): This timed event is dominated by female competitors. Cowgirls race their horses in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels placed in a triangle inside the arena. Precision and speed are key: knocking over a barrel incurs time penalties, and the fastest clean run wins. This event combines elegance and athleticism and is a crowd favorite.
Team Roping (Laço em Dupla): Also known as team penning, this event involves two riders working together to catch a steer. One rider, the "header," ropes the steer’s horns or head, while the other, the "heeler," ropes the animal’s hind legs. Timing, coordination, and teamwork are critical, and the fastest time with a clean catch wins.
Tie-Down Roping (Laço Individual): In this solo event, the cowboy must lasso a calf, dismount, and tie three of its legs together in the shortest time possible. Precision and quick footwork are essential to win this event.
Cutting and Herding Demonstrations (Provas de Apartação e Condução de Gado): While less competitive, these demonstrations celebrate the traditional ranching skills of herding and separating cattle. Riders work closely with their horses to isolate specific animals from a group - an essential task on cattle ranches.
The rodeo competitions at Barretos are overseen by a panel of expert judges and follow strict animal welfare regulations. Winners receive cash prizes, trophies, and widespread recognition in the world of rodeo. Many young riders dream of competing at Barretos, where a win can launch a national or even international career.
Culture, Food & Music at Festa do Peão de Barretos
Culturally, the festival is a full immersion into the cowboy lifestyle of Brazil’s interior, known locally as cultura caipira. Throughout Parque do Peão, themed villages and pavilions will showcase regional customs, including folk dance performances, rodeo displays, and artisan markets where visitors can buy hand-tooled leather goods, silver belt buckles, and traditional rodeo gear.
The 2025 edition has scheduled over 40 national and regional acts performing across two main stages: Palco Estádio, the centerpiece venue with stadium seating and large-scale production, and Palco Amanhecer, which hosts late-night and early-morning shows in a more intimate setting.
Headliners include Fernando & Sorocaba, João Bosco & Vinícius, Ana Castela, and legendary duo Chitãozinho & Xororó, whose career has spanned more than five decades. The music program also includes gospel nights, DJ sets, and surprise appearances.
Numerous food stalls and restaurants throughout the venue serve Brazilian BBQ (churrasco), skewered meats (espetinho), deep fried pastries (pastel), and sweet treats like doce de leite and corn pudding (curau).
Listen to some Sertanejo music ahead of the festival and learn some of the classics:
Side events at Festa do Peão de Barretos
1. Queima do Alho
This is one of the most beloved and historic events of the festival. The term Queima do Alho ("Burning of the Garlic") refers to the old cowboy tradition of cooking hearty meals on open flames during cattle drives. At Barretos, teams of peões — often dressed in full traditional attire — compete to prepare the best rustic dishes using cast iron pots and firewood. Dishes include:
Arroz carreteiro: a savory rice dish made with dried or salted beef.
Feijão tropeiro: beans cooked with manioc flour, eggs, and sausage.
Paçoca de carne seca: a protein-packed mixture of shredded dried beef and manioc flour.
Churrasco: grilled cuts of meat, especially picanha and ribs.
Judges assess the meals based on flavor, authenticity, presentation, and adherence to tradition, while attendees get to sample the offerings, often accompanied by cachaça and live moda de viola music. It's part cook-off, part cultural reenactment — and a major crowd-pleaser.
2. Berrante Contest (Concurso de Berranteiros)
This unique contest celebrates the berrante, a traditional Brazilian horn made from cattle horns and used by cowboys to signal during cattle drives. Contestants compete to see who can produce the loudest, longest, and most melodious calls. It's not only about volume — rhythm, technique, and emotional delivery are judged as well. This event honors the cowboy’s deep connection with cattle and the land.
3. Tropeiro Parades and Horse Shows
Daily parades showcase beautifully groomed horses and traditional tropeiro (cattle driver) outfits. Riders, including children and women, participate in processions that wind through the park. Some events include breed showcases, such as the Mangalarga Marchador and Pantaneiro horses, prized for their smooth gait and historical role in Brazil’s cattle culture.
4. Cowboy Baptism and Arena Wedding Ceremonies
Couples sometimes choose to get married in Barretos, and the festival hosts special wedding ceremonies in full rodeo style — inside the arena, on horseback, with cowboy hats instead of veils. Newcomers to the rodeo lifestyle can also take part in a symbolic “baptism” where they’re anointed with dirt from the arena.
5. Educational Exhibitions and Cultural Pavilions
Several areas within Parque do Peão are dedicated to educating visitors about rural life, rodeo techniques, animal welfare, and cowboy history. The "Museu do Peão" (Cowboy Museum) is particularly popular, showcasing historical gear, saddles, old rodeo posters, and audiovisual exhibits.
Where to buy tickets for Festa do Peão de Barretos
Tickets for the main festival and side events are available through the official website, with prices varying significantly depending on the chosen sector and date. Options include daily passes, premium areas (camarotes), and VIP boxes. The site includes a useful map displaying where in the arena each ticket type will be seated.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official website.
More resources for planning your trip to Brazil
Find cheap bus, ferry, and private transfer tickets on Bookaway, where you can make reservations ahead of time from abroad. For more information on traveling by bus, read my full guide to taking long-distance busses in Brazil.
Book your accommodation on Booking.com, with thousands of options ranging from luxury hotels to budget-friendly backpacker hostels, there's something for everyone
Don't forget to read my packing check-list for Brazil
Finally, read this post to find out 10 things you should do before you travel to Brazil!