Unaí brings together two recurring annual events and a distinctive heritage focus: the Festa da Moagem e Carro de Boi takes place in April, and ExpoAgro in September. The city also has a municipal museum and protected historic sites. When planning your trip, it helps to first decide whether you want to time your stay around a festival or focus mainly on exploring local history and cultural sites.

Festivals Throughout the Year

The Festa da Moagem e Carro de Boi has been held every April since 1998. It includes an ox-cart parade that begins with a group departure from a farm near Unaí. The carts travel through the city center and continue to Parque de Exposições Dr. Joaquim Brochado, where the festival takes place. The event therefore comprises a start at the farm, a procession through the city, and the festival grounds.

ExpoAgro also takes place at Parque de Exposições Dr. Joaquim Brochado. It has been held every September during Semana da Pátria since 1960. The two festivals can therefore be distinguished by when they take place: the Festa da Moagem includes a procession through the city center, while ExpoAgro is tied to September and Semana da Pátria. ExpoAgro’s exact dates may vary from year to year, so check the specific event dates before your trip.

Heritage in Unaí

Protected heritage sites in the Distrito Sede include Ponte do Rio Preto, also known as Ponte Abdon Salgado. The protected Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Carmo is also in the Distrito Sede. Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is part of Unaí’s historic heritage. These names represent different cultural landmarks: a bridge, a sanctuary, and a church. Exploring the city’s heritage lets you look at these different themes rather than grouping them together as a single monument.

City History at the Museum

The Museu Municipal Histórico e Cultural de Unaí “Maria Torres Gonçalves” was established on July 3, 2008. Its purpose is to preserve the local memory and heritage of the people of Unaí. The permanent collection includes furniture and rural household items, as well as photographs and documents from the pioneers who founded the city. It offers a perspective that ranges from household objects to visual and written records of the city’s founding.

The museum is located at Rua Joaquim Brochado 197 in the Capim Branco neighborhood. This gives you a specific location to plan around; check current visiting arrangements before you go. A museum visit offers a different focus from the festivals: rather than an annual event, it centers on a collection connected to local memory and the city’s founding history.

April and September offer two seasonal reference points if you want a festival to determine your travel dates. Unaí’s heritage and museum collection also provide other ways to explore the city. Which perspective best suits your trip depends on whether you are more interested in the procession and festival traditions or in architectural and urban history.

Discover more destinations: Tupacyguara, São Sebastião Do Paraíso, Delfim Moreira, Baldim, Senhora Do Porto, Entre Rios De Minas, Antônio Pereira, Pouso Alegre

For the broader travel guide: Minas Gerais.