The vice president of the Republic, Hamilton Mourão, participates today (18) in the opening ceremony of the 33rd National Grape Festival. The event is held at Parque Mário Bernardino Ramos, in Caxias do Sul (RS). The state governor, Eduardo Leite, and the deputy, Ranolfo Vieira Júnior, will also be present.
The opening of the party will have a reduced audience, restricted to guests. Mourão will participate as the main authority of the ceremony, will be the last to speak and will unveil the inaugural banner. The gates will open for visitors in general at 2:00 pm.
After the ceremony, the vice president is expected to visit the pavilions to see the stands. He will have lunch at a restaurant located inside the park. Before leaving the site, he must speak briefly with journalists.
The president of the party, Fernando Bertotto, highlighted the importance of the presence of authorities at the opening. “The arrival of the vice president highlights the importance of Caxias do Sul on the national scene. We know how intense the agenda of national authorities is, so we are honored with the confirmation. The participation of the vice president, governor, mayors and others guests materializes the idea of having a great event”.
The National Grape Festival is held again three years after the last edition. Traditionally, the celebration takes place every two years but, due to the covid-19 pandemic, in 2021 it was cancelled. Typically Italian, the festival celebrates the history, culture and agro-industrial production of the city and the region.
Vaccination
To gain access to the party and its attractions, such as shows and parades, it is necessary to present a Vaccination Book (for people over 18 years old) and to wear a mask. Another option for those who do not have the complete vaccination schedule is to present a negative test for covid-19 carried out no more than 48 hours before – RT-PCR or antigen tests are accepted.
The mandatory vaccination is based on State Decree No. 56,199, of 11/18/2021, which establishes that municipalities with less than 90% of the adult population with a complete vaccination schedule must require proof. According to the city hall, in Caxias do Sul this rate is 79.4%.
The municipal secretary of Health, Daniele Meneguzzi, said, in an interview last week, that a vaccination point against covid-19 will be open throughout the event. Doses will be given to teenagers (12 to 17 years old), as well as a booster for anyone who is on the date of receiving that dose.
“We always reinforce the importance of prevention measures, especially the use of masks and hand hygiene, which are, together with the vaccine, the main weapons we have to fight covid-19”, Daniele stressed.
Operation
The park will be open from Monday to Thursday, from 11 am to 10 pm, and on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 10 am to 10 pm. Entrance costs R$ 20 and R$ 10 (half), and children up to 12 years old do not pay. Tickets to visit the party or to the shows can be purchased in advance by the site of the event or on the spot.
In addition to the program with musical attractions, parades, typical Italian cuisine and sweet grapes delivered free of charge to visitors, the event seeks to attract 800 thousand people to Serra Gaúcha in 18 days of celebration. The organization’s expectation is that around 200 tons of grapes will be distributed in the pavilions and in the parades. The main attractions are Dilsinho (18), Jorge and Mateus (19), Nando Reis (25), Alok (4/3), Israel & Rodolffo and DJ Guuga (5).
