Festivals in Brazil

Hello everyone,

What are the main festivals in Brazil? Are there art, food, music, film, or other festivals expats can attend and participate in?

When do the festivals take place? How long does each festival usually last?

What activities go on during the festival? Is it necessary to buy tickets?

Are there any other events that take place in Brazil that shouldn't be missed?

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Priscilla

Praia de Pipa has a large number of event scheduled throughout the year.  A city of about 12,000 people and a daily high season tourist population of about 8,000, Pipa's major events are "Festival  Bossa & Jazz"  held in August of each year for a week.  This festival hosts international performers in music categories of Bossa Nova & Jazz.  Some performers are scheduled throughout that week to play at restaurants, bars and hotels with the main on-stage events located at "Pipa Open Air" on the weekend.  Tickets for the stage event require purchase.  Carnival is held every year doing the normally scheduled time with Carnival everywhere in Brazil during February or March.  This is a crazy week of parties, beach hopping and participating in the main event, the Pipa Annual Carnival parade.  There are over 100 cafes and restaurants here in Pipa with many of their kitchens headed by an international chef from mostly the EU.  Each October Pipa hosts a week long "Culinary Fest"  with contest for each restaurant to enter into a category of food competition.  Food booths are set up at the central plaza and the food is absolutely delightful!  No tickets required.  News Years celebration is huge in Pipa with Christmas week going into New Years as hundreds of Brazilians flock to Pipa for this annual event that includes a very nice fireworks display over the Ocean and Central Beach of Pipa.  There are about a dozen other scheduled events which include a "Rave" weekend with concerts, etc. throughout the year.

One of the most celebrated festivals in the southern region where I live is Oktoberfest. Bier... lots of craft cerveja. Them delicious "loiras" could be had in Blumenau, Santa Catarina (Oktoberfest) during.... of course you guessed right - October. Lots of German salchichas, sauerkraut, roasted duck and international cuisine. Have various ohm-pa-pah band playing with fraus in typical German attire. All of Brazil come including international guests. Some bands at times from Germany come and play.
Entrance tickets around R$15.

Another beer festival is in Pomerode, Santa Catarina. Dubbed as the most German of all Brazil, the
Festa Pomerana come every 3rd week of January. Please Google it if you come to make sure the exact date. German bands play to the delight of eveyone as you see every Fritz and Frida twirl around the dance hall with gusto. Lots of German and international food. Competitions like log cutting with saw,
etc. Entrance tickets around R$8-R$10.

There are some more cities in Santa Catarina like Joinville but those are the most famous ones.
Parana also have 2 cities that celebrate this "liquid bread" - Marechal Candido Rondon and the
Festa da Cerveja Preta in Ponta Grossa, Parana.

Here in Rio Grande do Sul, there's Igrejinha. Same things. I have attended all of them. The difference
with the one in Munich, Germany is that you don't sit along a long table and just drink to oblivion.
Brazilians love to dance and better practice that waltz because Brazilian ladies would invite you!

Brazilians celebrate harvests of Morango(strawberry), cebola (onions). Even Festa da Tainha (mullet)
is celebrated at the fishing villages of Barra da Lagoa, Florianopolis and Tramandai, Rio Grande do Sul.
Lots of festivals. May the Lord have mercy on my liver....

Cheers!

robal