Festival in Caldas Novas Faces Scrutiny Over Public Disorder
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Festival in Caldas Novas Faces Scrutiny Over Public Disorder
- The Caldas Country Show, a major music festival in Caldas Novas, Brazil, has reportedly faced issues of public disorder, including vandalism and illicit activities, particularly during its 2012 edition.
- Following significant public and national attention to these problems in 2012, the Public Ministry required the implementation of an Urban Impact Study, leading to reported improvements in the 2013 festival.
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The Caldas Country Show, considered one of the largest country music festivals in Goiás, Brazil, has been a significant event in Caldas Novas since its inception in 2006. Caldas Novas itself is a well-known hydrothermal resort city, attracting many tourists annually due to its natural hot springs.
However, the festival has, at times, strained the city’s infrastructure and public order. In 2012, the event gained national attention for various issues, including slow traffic, excessive noise, vandalism, violence, drug use, theft, public indecency, water shortages, and accumulated litter. Reports from that year described scenes of explicit public sexual activity, car fires, and vandalism of ambulances.
In response to the widespread issues in 2012, the Public Ministry mandated an Urban Impact Study (EIV) for the festival. This led to demonstrable improvements in the 2013 edition of the Caldas Country Show. The festival director, Fernando Clemente, noted a 20% reduction in ticket sales and a reinforcement of policing, with 600 officers deployed in the streets, specifically to address the external disorder that had been a problem in previous years. Public opinion surveys in 2013 showed an increase in residents’ approval of the festival compared to 2012, with 90% in agreement with the event after the EIV was implemented.
Large-scale festivals like Caldas Country Show can bring significant economic benefits to host cities through tourism, increased spending on accommodation, food, and local businesses. However, they also present challenges related to infrastructure, public services, and potential social impacts if not properly managed. The Caldas Country Show has continued to attract large crowds, with the 2016 edition reportedly drawing 60,000 people and the 2022 festival anticipating around 100,000 attendees. The festival took a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic before returning in 2022 with a new organizing team and layout. The 16th edition of the festival was held from November 1 to 4, 2023.