Parintins town ready for another popular festival despite crisis

There can be no doubt the Folklore Festival of Parintins is always a fantastic show. Last year, however, the economic crisis made a significant impact on the event, which saw a considerably lower turnout. Rooms could still be found vacant in hotels and inns across town, and the lines outside the venue where performances are held, were not their usual length. This year, however, the scenario for the festival—which begins this Friday (Jun 30) and is to last three performance-packed nights—is a much more promising one.

The Festival of Parintins, a town located 369km away from the state capital of Amazonas, has become one of the region's biggest cultural attractions. During the event, two folklore groups put on a performance bringing together elements such as local legends, indigenous rituals, and the traditions of riverside communities. The celebration centers on the figure of the Boi Bumbá, represented by the two groups as oxen in two different colors: red—the Boi Garantido—and blue—the Boi Caprichoso. The festive competition is held at the Bumbódromo, a building similar to an arena in its structure.

Some 150 incoming flights have been booked, in addition to the 80 private aircrafts requesting permission to land, according to official data. The hotel occupation rate stands at an impressive 99%. “We're sure that this year's tourist demand will be high and that the municipality is ready as much as we are. The whole town has been properly structured,” said Parintins Coordinator for Tourism Karla Viana.

In 2016, people went as far as to fear that the celebration would not be held at all, and the festival was referred to as “a festival for overcoming obstacles.” Its main sponsor—the state government—had decided to withdraw its funding and the event was organized at the eleventh hour by the local government itself. Though the economic landscape has seen better days, the town is prepared to host the 52nd edition of the festival. The public is expected to add up to 70 thousand to 100 thousand people, nearly twice the town's population.

Caprichoso president Babá Tupinambá says financial setbacks are still a challenge, but maintains that the blue ox is perfectly capable of putting on a great show. “I speak for Caprichoso when I say we hope this one is also a festival for overcoming obstacles. Things haven't been easy, what with everything that's been going on in the country. Some sponsors agreed to partner up, some didn't. But that shouldn't keep Caprichoso from having a magnificent ox and aim for the victory, not just the competition itself,” Tupinambá said.

Caprichoso's rival also seems optimistic. Adelson Albuquerque, president of the Boi-Bumbá Garantido, winner of last year's competition, mention this year's renewed atmosphere, and says this year's will be a remarkable festival. “We're experiencing the festival days before its beginning this year. Tickets are expected to sell much more this time. By all s, this is going to be one of the best festivals of all times,” Albuquerque argued.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira