| Ranch life and expert horsemanship are central to | | | | Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sol and Minas Gerais. |
| many cultures and customs in cattle farming regions of | | | | Those cowboys who were responsible for |
| Latin America and the spectacle of a rodeo fiesta is | | | | transporting the cattle would hold contests amongst |
| often the highlight of many a South America vacation. | | | | one-another to see who could ride the most energetic |
| Nowhere is this more so than in the Brazilian city of | | | | and lively horses, and so the tradition began. Much in |
| Barretos during the Festa do Peao de Boiadeiro, held | | | | the same style of its North American counterparts, the |
| every year between 20 and 30 of August. The rodeo | | | | rodeo has now incorporated the more difficult skill of |
| draws thousands of spectators and should be a | | | | bull riding. |
| definite feature during any Brazil travel experience. | | | | Revelers dressed in Cowboy and Cowgirl |
| During the course of the rodeo, the city transforms | | | | paraphernalia fill the city's 35,000 seat stadium to catch |
| itself into a buzzing festival of entertainment - sport, | | | | a glimpse of the shows. The stadium was designed by |
| culture, folklore and art are centred on the shows of | | | | world famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and |
| cowboys, horses and bulls. | | | | it replaced the central Paulo de Lima park as the main |
| The "Festival of Cowboys" began in 1955 and has | | | | venue in 1985. It is surrounded by the 1,440.000 |
| now been organized for over 50 years by the Os | | | | m² Park de Peao where shops, restaurants, |
| Inpendentes Social Club. It is traditionally held around | | | | theme parks, food markets, clubs and stalls of all |
| August 25, to coincide with the founding of Barretos, a | | | | description set up shop for the week. |
| country city some 440km from the metropolis of Sao | | | | There is now millions of dollars invested into the Festa |
| Paulo. | | | | do Peao de Boiadeiro, and prizes can range from |
| The rodeo tradition originated from the historically | | | | anything a cowboy hat to a luxury car while cash |
| significant cattle trade that passed through Barretos - | | | | prizes reach as much as 100,000 Brazilian Reales |
| cows were transported to slaughterhouses in the city | | | | ($50,000) for the overall winner. |
| from the neighboring ranching states of Goias, Mato | | | | |