O bloco do Zé Pereira no Carnaval de Rio Novo (MG): vínculos comunitários, tradição e processos de turistificação

Abstract

This study analyzes the Bloco do Zé Pereira in the Carnival of Rio Novo (MG), considering its historical trajectory, its community ties, and the transformations associated with contemporary processes of the festival’s touristification. The study is based on the understanding of Carnival as a manifestation of popular culture that articulates collective memory, social identity, and the production of urban space. The objective of the research was to understand how community ties, the meanings attributed by participants, and the recent dynamics of tourism visibility influence the organization, experience, and continuity of the block within the context of the local Carnival. Methodologically, this research adopts a qualitative approach, characterized as descriptive and exploratory, grounded in ethnography and participant observation. Fieldwork was conducted during the 2026 editions of the Bloco do Zé Pereira, including systematic observations of festive practices, field diary records, and the analysis of documents and promotional materials related to the event. The results indicate that the block constitutes a significant space for the production and renewal of collective memory, in which symbolic practices, public tributes, material elements, and intergenerational participation reinforce the community’s sense of belonging to the manifestation. At the same time, transformations associated with the presence of sponsors, the circulation of visitors, and the articulation with the official municipal Carnival program were observed, revealing tensions between community tradition, institutionalization, and tourism dynamics. It is concluded that the Bloco do Zé Pereira can be understood as a dynamic cultural manifestation whose continuity is sustained through the constant negotiation between tradition and transformation, between social memory and the contemporary reorganization of the festival.