Join us to celebrate the Brazilian winter festivities — live Forró, traditional food, bonfire warmth and good company.
The same loved band from last year is back playing Forró — traditional São João music — live. Each family contributes $35 to cover the cost.
Recipes are shared with every family who RSVPs — your chance to cook traditional dishes and beverages to share on the day.
For families from Kinder to Year 3. List everyone attending in the RSVP — and reach out to Daniel before inviting extended family and friends.
São João is Brazil's beloved June festival — a winter celebration of harvest, community and tradition, with bonfires, bunting, quadrilha dancing and tables full of homemade food. Now in its 4th edition here, we're bringing that warmth together again.
Festa Junina (June's Festival) covers a number of prominent saints' days that fall in June — particularly São João (Saint John), celebrated on the 24th. Mixing Portuguese midsummer traditions with the Southern Hemisphere winter, it celebrates the harvest season and rural life, and is the second largest festival in Brazil, celebrated all over the country.
The most important part is bringing people together and reuniting the community — the fire, the abundant food, and all the games, music and dance are key elements that keep the tradition alive.
São João tables are built on cassava, sweet corn, white corn, peanut, butternut squash and potato — in savoury and sweet dishes alike. Scroll down for the full cookbook and recipes.
Forró is the genre always present at Festas Juninas, alongside regional rhythms like boi-bumbá and tambor-de-caboclo. Get your dancing shoes ready.
A mixture of dance and theatre inspired by the French quadrilles — traditionally telling the story of a forced wedding, with plenty of obstacles on the procession to the church.
The bonfire (fogueira) is connected to the story of Saint John's birth; fireworks summon him to the celebration, and fire balloons traditionally carried prayers and wishes to him.
All the fun — for kids, families and grown-ups.
Fishing game, can toss, ring toss and the balloon mouth game.
Sack race, three-legged race and the egg-and-spoon race.
Live Brazilian music and dance — the heart of every São João.
The classic greased-pole climbing challenge. Bring your grit.
The traditional square dance in costume — everyone's welcome to join in.
A São João story session for the little ones early in the afternoon.
It's an immense privilege and honour to share a bit of our Brazilian traditions and culture with MRSS families.
Saturday 1 August 2026 · 2pm–7pm
60 Jacksons Rd, St Andrews VIC
Hosted by Karla & Nick
Plenty of parking at the property. Parking is on unpaved ground, but it's accessible and suitable for all cars.
We strongly encourage families — adults and children — to wear traditional São João clothing at the festival.
Your chance to cook traditional dishes and beverages to share on the day.
All the recipes in one place — download the full cookbook.
Download the Cookbook ⬇Get inspired and learn how to do it yourself! All about the São João decoration, outfit and dance — feel free to create and add your own touches.
Bunting, flags and table styling ideas.
Traditional caipira looks for adults and kids.
Forró and quadrilha steps to learn at home.
Photos and ideas from past festas.
Since 2023, we've been bringing our Brazilian traditions to the MRSS community.
São João is deeply rooted in our family's heritage. It's about preserving culture, creating memories, and introducing our traditions to the next generation — in Australia, far from Brazil, but with the same warmth and joy.
We started this for MRSS families to experience authentic Brazilian celebration together. Every year, it grows — more laughter, more food, more dancing, more community bonds.
From 2023's first edition to now — your support and participation make this happen. Whether it's helping with setup, bringing a dish, or dancing the quadrilha, everyone plays a part.
This year is special. We're four editions in, and we want to share even more of what makes São João magical — the food, the music, the connection, and the celebration of life.
A glimpse of the joy, food, music, and traditions we share each year.
Videos and photos from previous editions at our Pinterest board →
Let us know you're coming — it only takes a minute.
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