Besides seasonal holiday lights, the town will feature numerous cultural events through December 23
On December 1, Mariana‘s main tourist attractions will be covered with Christmas lights and decoration for the Natal de Luz event. The town will also be the scene of all kinds of cultural events until December 23.
The Municipality of Mariana has been receiving support from the Renova Foundation for this initiative since 2017. This year’s theme is “Lighting the Way and our Hearts,” and promises to delight town dwellers and tourists by highlighting the town’s architecture. The main landmarks of the historic center are connected with lights and decorations.
The Se Square, Direita Street, Frei Durao Street, Sao Francisco street, Minas Gerais Square and Gomes Freire Square, known as Jardim, are all part of the Christmas lights project. The latter was not in the initial plans, as it would be closed for its revitalization process. However, as construction work was postponed, it was possible to include the location in the circuit.
Appreciating Culture
The program will extend to other neighborhoods and districts, bringing together local artists and guests, as well as typical Christmas attractions such as cantatas and concerts. The idea is to appreciate the culture and traditions of Mariana and involving the population in the celebration.
Maria Cristina Aires, an expert in the Renova Foundation’s Education, Culture and Tourism area, sees actions such as the Natal de Luz event as a way of providing recreational areas for the community, strengthening their relationship with the town and also promoting tourism. “We seek to strengthen and give visibility to the town’s image through positive actions, promoting public areas for the local community and tourists, as well as highlighting and valuing the historical architectural elements of the downtown area of the municipality. We hope that the lights and planned Christmas events will create a space where local people can come together and that also attracts visitors and tourists to Mariana, she explains.
The Renova Foundation was in charge of hiring professionals for the preparation of the executive project and installation of lights. The Mariana Municipal Office and the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan), the body responsible for approving the Christmas Lights project, also participated in this action.
Check out the complete schedule of the Natal de Luz event:
12/5 (Thursday)
8:30pm – Concert of the Symphonic Band of the Military Fire Department of Minas Gerais – Claudio Manoel Square
12/6 (Friday)
7:30 pm- Arrival of Santa Claus on the Special Vale Christmas Train – Mariana Station
8pm – Santa Claus parade through the streets of the Historic Center with the Santa Band and “Bloconeco”
8:30pm – “Folia do Menino!” Show – Osquindo Band – Claudio Manoel Square
12/7 (Saturday)
10am – Christmas Ball (soccer) – Charity Game
Former Athletes of Mariana vs. Selection of Former Professional Athletes from Minas Gerais – Arena Badaro
7pm – Magical Christmas Show – Silas the Magician – Claudio Manoel Square
8:30pm – Christmas Concert – Union XV November Band – Claudio Manoel Square
12/8 (Sunday)
9am to 6pm – Artisans Associations Christmas Fair – Claudio Manoel Square
11am – Erika Curtiss
1pm – Tonny Junior
3pm – Tony Primo
6pm – Opening of the “House of Nativity Scenes” – Nativity Scene Exhibition – Claudio Manoel Square
7pm – Show “Angels of Light” – Happy Child Early Childhood Center – Claudio Manoel Square
8:30pm – “Merry Christmas” Show – Artists from Mariana – Claudio Manoel Square
12/9 (Monday)
7:30pm – Celebrating Christmas with Crescer High School- Claudio Manoel Square
12/10 (Tuesday)
7:30pm – Christmas Cantata – Dom Viçoso School – Claudio Manoel Square
8:30pm – Seresta “Nights That Never Come Back” – JK Square (in front of Town Hall)
12/11 (Wednesday)
8:30pm – “The Amazing Brazilians – Part 1” Show – Ballet Nina Albergaria – Claudio Manoel Square
12/12 (Thursday)
7:30pm – “The Amazing Brazilians – Part 2” Show – Ballet Nina Albergaria – Claudio Manoel Square
7:30pm – Christmas Concert – El Shaday Orchestra and Exodus Choir – Outside Senhora Aparecida Mother Church in the Cabanas neighborhood
8pm – Christmas Concert – Coios Band – Railroads Square
12/13 (Friday)
8pm – Christmas Concert – El Shaday Orchestra and Exodus Choir – Claudio Manoel Square
12/14 (Saturday)
4pm – Arrival of Santa Claus and Juventina Drumond Fanfare – Claudio Manoel (district)
Magical Christmas Show – Silas the Magician
8:30pm – Christmas Retreta – Sao Sebastiao Musical Society of Passage of Mariana and Bloconeco – Outside Senhora Aparecida Mother Church in the Cabanas neighborhood)
8:30pm – Concert “Quem perguntou por mim – Fernando Brant / Milton Nascimento” – Ouro Preto Orchestra with the participation of Tom Maior Choir – Claudio Manoel Square
12/15 (Sunday)
11am – “Band in the Square” with the bands Santa Cecilia from Passage of Mariana and December 8th from Cachoeira do Brumado – Claudio Manoel Square
4pm – “Magical Christmas Show” – Silas the Magician – Barro Branco (sub-district)
8pm – Christmas Concert – FUNCEC Joao Monlevade Big Band featuring the Tom Maior Choir- Claudio Manoel Square
12/16 (Monday)
7:30pm – Recital of the students of the Toque Musical School – Claudio Manoel Square
7:30pm – Christmas Cinema – Alto Rosario
12/17 (Tuesday)
7pm – Christmas Cantata of the students of the Doce Infancia School – Claudio Manoel Square
7:30pm – Christmas Cinema – Morro Santana
8pm – “Nativity – Christmas Oratory” by Oratorians of Padre Viegas – Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Colina neighborhood
12/18 (Wednesday)
7:30pm- Ballet Show “The Nutcracker” – Bailados Ballet School – Claudio Manoel Square
7:30pm – Christmas Cinema – Mainart (sub-district)
12/19 (Thursday)
8:30pm – Concert of the Symphony Orchestra of the Military Police of Minas Gerais – Claudio Manoel Square
12/20 (Friday)
8pm – Christmas Concert – Coios Band – Claudio Manoel Square
12/21 (Saturday)
7pm – Christmas procession with the Juventina Drumond Fanfare and Bloconeco – Santa Ifigenia Space, in Alto do Rosario
8pm – Christmas Oratory – Sitar of David of Barbacena – Claudio Manoel Square
8pm – Christmas Recital with the Tom Maior Choir – Sao Gonçalo and Santo Antonio Neighborhoods
12/22 (Sunday)
7:30pm – Three Kings Parade – Minas Gerais Square, Joao Pinheiro Street, Frei Durao Street, Claudio Manoel Square
8pm – “Nativity – Christmas Oratory” by Oratorians of Padre Viegas – Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Padre Viegas (district)
8:30pm – Christmas Recital – City of Prophets of Congonhas Choir – Claudio Manoel Square
12/23 (Monday)
8pm – “Nativity – Christmas Oratory” by Oratorians of Padre Viegas- Minas Gerais Square, Direita Street, Se Square
Learn more about the Natal de Luz event on the website of the Mariana Town Hall.