Find out what's happening in Brazil during your trip
Brazil's biggest and most popular events
Brazilians know how to throw a party on a massive scale where everyone from children to the retired jump into the celebrations with full enthusiasm and party spirit.
Apart from the world famous Carnival, there are also several other fun festivals throughout the year all around Brazil that each have their own special concept. Witnessing the incredible festive spirit in this country is definitely an enriching experience. So, if you have plans for holidays in Brazil, knowing about some popular celebrations in this country will make your trip more interesting.
Bahia is the land of magic, music and joy. All these components are gathered at the party that is considered the largest popular manifestation of the planet: the Carnival of Salvador. This grandiose event, with a significant prominent in national and international media attracts thousands of partygoers from all over the world. There are six days of great animation and exclusive moments that only the dynamics of the Bahian Folia (festive spectacle) can provide, with the essential presence of Trios Elétricos (a kind of truck equipped with a high-power sound system and a stage for music performance on top, playing for the crowd as it drives through the cities).
The carnival is held on the street, outdoors, in three different circuits: the Osmar Circuit is the oldest and walks down the center of Salvador, the atmosphere and energy are differentials on this route; The famous Barra/Ondina Circuit, also known as the Dodô Circuit, takes place by the beach, contemplating the summer and the wonderful view of the Barra Lighthouse until Ondina, totaling about four kilometers; And the Batatinha Circuit, in Pelourinho, the historical center of Salvador, where the carnival is celebrated in ancient fashion, with dances with masks, fanfare bands, and where afoxés (carnival group from Salvador) and other local cultural manifestations concentrate.
Who likes to participate the party up-close, with a lot of energy and vibration, can have fun in the various carnival blocos (street parties), which are organized with an trio elétrico structure and support car, and has its space delimited by a large rope, besides having an own security detail and first aid. For those who prefer more comfort and convenience, the camarote (vip area) is a great option. These spaces are located along the course of the circuits and visitors can enjoy the Salvador Carnival from viewpoints or take advantage of the internal areas, which have several options for food, drinks and entertainment, such as exclusive shows, nightclubs and gathering places.
When:
Carnaval 2022: 24 February – 01 March
Carnaval 2023: 15 – 21 February
Carnaval 2024: 07 – 13 February
Carnaval 2025: 27 February – 04 March
Carnival in Rio
RIO DE JANEIRO
In addition to beaches and mountains of stunning beauty, Rio de Janeiro is the stage of the most famous Brazilian party: Carnival. For almost a week, the city is taken by a unique spirit, capable of captivating Cariocas (the people from Rio) and tourists from all over the world. The festive spectacle goes from the blocos (street parties) to the glamorous dances, and reaches its climax in the Samba schools parade in Sapucaí. The largest spectacle on Earth is transmitted to millions of spectators, but only those who participate in the live party have a real notion of the vibration and enchantment that the Samba provides.
Samba Schools are the heart of the carnival in Rio. They are formed by people from the most traditional neighborhoods and the city's poor communities, who create costumes and parade trucks, based on a theme, and present themselves in the Sambódromo, a stadium specially designed by the renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer to house the parade of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro. Sambódromo has the capacity for more than 72.500 spectators on each night of the parade.
The main schools, such as Mangueira, Beija-Flor, Mocidade, Portela and Salgueiro, make an electrifying parade in the Sambódromo in an attempt to win the disputed title of champion. Forty jurors score the samba schools based on various qualities of the parade, including plot/story telling, drums, samba-plot and harmony, and the calculation of these votes is made on Quarta-Feira de Cinzas (Ash Wednesday: a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting).
Rio de Janeiro Carnival makes the city turn into one big party. Hundreds of street parties are spread through the neighborhoods, and adult and infant dances take place in the various clubs in the city. The Carioca Carnival provides fun for all audiences, from the luxurious Ball of Hotel Copacabana Palace, where you can bump into international celebrities, to the simplest of street parties, with their irreverent music and costumes of extreme originality.
When:
Carnaval 2022: 25 February – 05 March
Carnaval 2023: 17 – 25 February
Carnaval 2024: 09 – 17 February
Carnaval 2025: 28 February – 08 March
Carnival in Recife & Olinda
PERNAMBUCO
Full of culture and tradition, the Carnival of Pernambuco is one of the most famous in Brazil. The first sound that comes to the ear is undoubtedly Frevo (dance and musical style originating from Recife), but the experience of this celebration is much more than that: the time has come to wipe the dust from those costumes and colorful clothes forgotten at the bottom of the closet and fill your hair and face with colorful powder!
Recife's Carnival is one of the biggest events with more than 1.5 million people who come together for six days and nights of festive spectacle. The Galo da Madrugada (carnival street party from Recife) represents the beginning of the Carnival in Recife, with everyone dancing on Frevo to Samba. You will find several people dressed as known personalities, so do not be surprised to see Barack Obama or Fidel Castro waving to the crowd. In Recife the carnival is free to everyone, with blocos (street parties) and groups with permission to play their own varieties of music and make their own show. One of the most touching moments of the Carnival of Recife is the night of the silent drums: a tribute to the African slaves who died in prison.
The magic of the carnival continues in the colonial city of Olinda with crowds of all ages celebrating. As always, the Carnival in Olinda will receive a series of celebrities who are headed to the city every year to enjoy the charms of the party. Animated crowds queue the streets early in the morning, dancing to the pulsating rhythms of drums and horns. No Carnival in Olinda is complete without costumes, which are quite varied. The first party begins two Sundays before the event with the Virgens do Bairro Novo de Olinda, a street party that ignites the carnival. The eccentric giant paper-mâché dolls are also popular and can be viewed parading throughout the whole week of the event.
Frevo is the most popular style of music played at the Carnival of Recife. It originated from a combination of European and Afro-Brazilian cultures. Civil and military music bands in the past gave the Frevo its distinct character with plenty of blowing instruments. More than a commercial spectacle, the Carnival of Pernambuco is free for everyone, with the residents participating with their own carnival groups. They play a wide variety of music and plan their routes through the cities of Recife and Olinda.
When:
Carnaval 2022: 24 February – 01 March
Carnaval 2023: 15 – 21 February
Carnaval 2024: 07 – 13 February
Carnaval 2025: 27 February – 04 March
New Year's Eve in Rio
RIO DE JANEIRO
New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro is the most famous in Brazil due to its parties, shows and several other attractions. The marvelous city is a tourist destination throughout the year, however, at New Year's Eve the flow of tourists arriving in Rio de Janeiro increases considerably. In 2019, for example, more than 1.5 million tourists went to Copacabana to spend New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro. On this beach, the firework show, which lasts more than 10 minutes, is extremely famous. But throughout the city there are several parties, some of which private or open to the public.
The traffic of Rio de Janeiro is known for being chaotic, no matter what period. However, at New Year's Eve it simply stops! Many public transports such as line busses suffer changes on the eve of the date, which can generate confusion for tourists and places that depend on this transport. If you want to use taxis or a mobility application like Uber, try to organize your night in advance, so that a possible delay does not result in a New Year's Eve in the middle of traffic. The safest way is to enjoy the occasion to rent a bike and avoid the numerous cars that will be in town, or stay as close as possible to where you want to celebrate, so you can go walking.
For those who are not bothered with big crowds, Copacabana Beach is obviously the best option for a New Year's celebration of your dreams. In addition to the privileged view of the marvelous city (with a bonus of views of the Sugar Loaf Mountain and Cristo Redentor), this place also provides several shows of national artists and a fantastic firework show when the clock sounds at midnight, all for free. That is, if you are able to find a space between the almost three million people who get together at the waterfront. Another great program would be a cruise. Ships are docked in front of the beach and you see the spectacle of the fireworks from another angle with the city and the crowd as a scenery.
Barra da Tijuca can be described as Copacabana's younger sister, who does not enjoy that much attention. In addition to the stunning beauty of coconut trees and soft sand contrasting with the blue sea, the beach is large and spacious and does not group many people at New Year's Eve. This means more space to enjoy the family and a clearer view of the fireworks. Although the beach does not contain attractions as majestic as Copacabana, this combination makes Barra da Tijuca beach one of the best places to spend the New Year. Penha, Ilha do Governador, Pedra de Guaratiba, Sepetiba, Paquetá, Praia de Ramos and Parque Madureira are also great options to pass the New Year in a quieter place.
When: 31 December – 01 January
Bumba Meu Boi do Maranhão
MARANHÃ0
Bumba Meu Boi do Maranhão is a big celebration that brings together various associated cultural aspects, divided between an expressive layout, composed of dramatic performances, musical and choreography, and a material layout, composed of handicrafts, such as the embroideries of the ox and handmade musical instruments. Another highlight of this celebration is the richness of the plays and characters. In 2019, this popular manifestation received from UNESCO the title of Imaterial Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Deeply rooted in Christianity and, in particular, in popular Catholicism, Bumba Meu Boi involves devotion to the saints of June (in June, the church celebrates the party of three great saints) Santo Antônio, São João and São Pedro. The Afro-Brazilian religious cults of Maranhão, such as the Tambor de Mina and the Terecô, are also present in this celebration, since the syncretism occurs between the saints of June and the Orixás, Voduns and other religious movements that require an ox as a spiritual obligation. The Bumba Meu Boi is a traditional party in which the figure of the ox is the central element, but brings together several other cultural manifestations and thus configures as a vast "cultural complex".
Often defined as a popular folklore, the presentations of the oxen occur throughout the state of Maranhão and concentrate during the Festas Juninas (June celebrations). It comprises several styles of play - called sotaques (accents).
In this great cultural celebration various forms of expression and knowledge are displayed, and faith, party and art come together in a mixture of devotion, beliefs, myths, joy, colors, dance, music, theater and crafts, among other elements. Considered the most important manifestation of the popular culture of the state, it has its festive cycle divided into four stages: rehearsals, baptism, public presentations and death.
When: 13 – 29 June
LGBT Pride in São Paulo
SÃO PAULO
The acronym LGBT refers to "lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals". The LGBT parades, a moment of political reaffirmation and identity celebration, are promoted throughout the world.
In Brazil, the LGBT movement began to take form under the denomination of "gay movement" or "homosexual movement" in the late 1970s. In the effervescent context of Brazil's political redemocratization in the 1980s, the LGBT population sought to politicize the free exercise of sexuality in order to claim equal rights.
The 10th Parade of the LGBT Pride of São Paulo has been included in the Guinness Book or Records, as the largest of the genre in the world – 2.5 million participants. The LGBT pride in São Paulo is held annually on Avenida Paulista since 1997.
The São Paulo LGBT Pride Parade is heavily supported by the federal government as well as by the Governor of São Paulo and the city mayor. Many politicians show up to open the main event and the government often joins with a parade truck with politicians on top of it. Caixa Econômica Federal, a government bank, and Petrobrás, Brazil's biggest oil firm, have commited to back up the event and its diversity by funding the event. During the Pride the city receives hundreds of thousands of tourists, and because of this support the event has many security measures in place.
When: Sunday after the annual holiday of Corpus Christi, in June; 19 June 2022
São Paulo F1 Grand Prix
SÃO PAULO
The São Paulo Grand Prix, previously known as the Brazilian Grand Prix is a Formula One championship race which is currently held at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in the Interlagos neighborhood, São Paulo.
The international fame of the track began in the 1970s. After an essential reform to adapt the 7.960 meters for monopular races, Interlagos saw the first F1 World Champion for Brazil, Emerson Fittipaldi.
Then, in the 1990s, the reform of the track brought the return of the F1 to São Paulo. The circuit was reduced from 7,9 kilometers to 4,3 miles, according to the requirements of the category. The lane was shorter, but the degree of difficulty remained and the cars have come to run longer together, making the races more interesting to the public.
From 1970 to date, Interlagos became the sporting stage of Brazil's largest international sport, receiving the world's elite of Formula 1, from Jackie Stewart to Michael Schumacher, from Nigel Mansell to Nelson Piquet and from Niki Lauda to Ayrton Senna.
Formula 1 races have brought illustrious visitors like Gene Hackman, Ugo Tognazzi, Sydne Rome, Gael Garcia Bernal and Mick Jagger. José Carlos Pace was stuntman from Al Pacino in Interlagos, in the track scenes of the film 'Bobby Deerfield', in the GP Brazil of Formula 1 in 1976. In 1979, it was Beatle George Harrison who joined the São Paulo race on his visit to Brazil.
When: 12 – 14 November 2021
Círio de Nazaré in Belem
PARÁ
Círio de Nazaré is a Catholic procession that happens every year in Belém do Pará, northern Brazil, on the second Sunday of October. The procession consists of taking the original image of Our Lady of Nazareth (Nossa Senhora de Nazaré), affectionately called Naza or Nazinha, from the basilica (where it remains all year) to the Holy Square of Nazareth (Praça Santuário de Nazaré).
The tradition of Círio de Nazaré emerged some time after a man found an image of the saint. There are different versions to this story, but one of the most credible is based on a manuscript of Dom Frei João Evangelista, fifth Bishop of Pará, where he stated that at the end of October 1700, Plácido José de Souza would have found an image of the saint near an igarapé located on the margin of a stream and decided to take her home.
The next day, the image had disappeared and Plácido would have found her again in the same place where he had seen her for the first time. The fact was repeated for days and thus Plácido understood that the image should be kept at the place where she always reappeared, building a small chapel to house the saint.
Círio de Nazaré is a religious celebration consisting of several official subdivisions: The transfer (traslado) consists of the first route made by the image of Our Lady of Nazareth during the Círio. The image goes on top of a car from Basílica de Nazaré to the Church of Nossa Senhora das Graças (Matriz Church), which is in Ananindeua, a neighboring municipality of Belem, where the saint remains at night.
After the night wake in Ananindeua, the image of the saint continues its journey to the village of Icoaraci in Belém, and is accompanied by ambulances and cars from official authorities such as police and firefighters. In the romaria fluvial, the image of Our Lady of Nazareth continues by boat in the Guajará Bay, from Icoaraci to the port of the city of Belém, accompanied by canoes, jet skis, boats and yachts adorned to honor the saint.
The procession of the Círio de Nazaré brings together more than two million people of faith and follows a path that goes from the Cathedral da Sé to the Basilica de Nazaré. This pilgrimage is considered the peak of the Círio, which begins with the celebration of a mass and then the image of the saint is carried by the Archbishop to the berlinda (A small sanctuary in which the image of Our Lady of Nazareth is transported), to follow the route to the Basilica.
Many devotees form a human cord along a 400 meter long rope, some follow barefoot, others carry with them crucifixes, saint images and objects that are related to some achieved grace, as a form of thanks or request. Arriving there, the saint stands exposed to the public for a week, in the Praça Santuário de Nazaré.
When: Second Sunday of October; 09 October 2022
Festival Folclórico de Parintins
AMAZONAS
The folklore festival of Parintins is one of the most important Brazilian popular celebrations. Since 1965, it happens every year in the city of Parintins on the banks of the Amazon River, 400 kilometers from Manaus. Your only access is though water or air transport. During the three days of the party, Parintins dresses with the blue color of the "Boi Caprichoso" and with the red color of the "Boi Garantido". There are three nights of competition in the "Bumbódromo" of the city, where the two associations exhibit, through allegories and theatrical spectacle, with regional themes such as legends, indigenous rituals and ribeirinhos (people who live at the riverside margins) culture. At the end, a jury, composed of six members, defines the great winner. It's a grand spectacle!
The festival is usually compared to the carnival, but the structure, the dynamics and the goals are very different from the parade of a samba school. Here, the presentations occur in an arena and the themes always aim to preserve folklore and cultural diversity of the people of the Amazon. Dances, characters and music of indigenous influence, and large allegories tell the history of the Boi-Bumbá and the daily life of the inhabitants of the region.
The folklore festival of Parintins is art, color and rhythm. It's an "Opera in the Forest", as some describe it. It is a tribute to Mother Earth, to the forest and the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. It's magical, unique and an unforgettable experience.
It is not possible to be neutral in Parintins. Be "Garantido" or "Caprichoso", it is imperative to choose (and defend) a boi (ox). Identify with blue or red, but only one of them. Because no one is Caprichoso and Garantido at the same time!
When: Last weekend of June; 24 – 26 June 2022
Natal Luz in Gramado
RIO GRANDE DO SUL
Natal Luz in Gramado feels like dreaming while being awake and having feelings that have long been hidden inside. In this fantastic scenery you will experience numerous sensations and redeem the symbology of Christmas. The traditional event that takes place between October and January offers many attractions such as large shows, musical spectacles, parades, concerts, theater and music in more than 500 presentations. Attracting more than two million tourists every year, the event confirms the strength and dedication of a city to welcome its visitors. A gigantic team is prepared to transform fantasy into reality.
One of the highlights of the festival in Gramado is the Nativitaten show. At Lake Joaquina Rita Bier, families come together to accompany a show full of pyrotechnics, lights and a great Christmas presentation with artists and musicians. The Nativitaten show will exhibit the most striking moments of human life on Earth. The show occurs on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9pm.
The great Christmas parade is a show at the Gramado Expo with lots of dancing, lights, colors and glow, accompanied by a beautiful original soundtrack and traditional Christmas characters. The large parade occurs on Wednesday to Friday and Sundays at 9pm.
Another succesful exhibition is the Natalis show attracting more than 100 thousand spectators in previous years. With laser projection technology, synchronized fireworks and the participation of performers, singers, dancers and production of content with 4K resolution to bring an exciting and inspiring story. The spectacle takes place at Lake Joaquina Rita Bier on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm.
When: 28 October 2021 – 30 January 2022
Oktoberfest in Blumenau
SANTA CATARINA
Blumenau's Oktoberfest, the biggest beer celebration outside of Germany, attracts thousands of tourists to the city every year. There are 19 days of celebrations, always in October, a lot of beer, music and German traditions. The party is among the best in Brazil and, you can be sure of it, among the most entertaining!
The event takes place at Vila Germânica Park, a large convention center with several pavilions and everything is decorated as if it were a village from the interior of Germany. Throughout the year, the shops and bars of Vila Germânica remain open to receive tourists, but it is during the Oktoberfest that it becomes a big festive complex showered in beer.
The party happens both in the area inside the pavilions and outside. Draft beer is present everywhere and the variety is enormous. Each Oktoberfest pavilion (three in total) has a different attraction. On stage, bands play typical German music (and others not so typical) and competitions take place, such as choosing the best typical costume and who can finish his beer the fastest. And if you really want to get into the vibe, be sure to purchase some accessories and clothes when you get to Blumenau. They complete the party and make everything more fun.
Although the party happens inside the Vila Germânica, it is on the street XV de Novembro where it begins. Here, the typical clothing parade takes place along with draft beer vehicles. It is a great German carnival and one of the highlights of Oktoberfest. Schedule to enjoy the parade at least once, it happens on Wednesdays and Saturdays and is worth every minute!
When: 05 – 23 October 2022
Carnatal
RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
The Carnatal is the out of season carnival in the city of Natal, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Held annually at the beginning of the month of December, it is organized in the Praça de Eventos of the Arena das Dunas. It was included in the Guinness Book as the biggest out of season carnival in the world, bringing together about a million people in its four days of celebrations.
For the partygoers there is no denying: the expectation for the next Carnatal begins whenever one ends. It was like that since 1991, when the largest and best out of season carnival of Brazil was created. Much more than big numbers and success stories, the Carnatal adds joy, happiness and offers entertainment to the people from Rio Grande do Norte, who spend the year waiting to relive the city's most animated festive spectacle.
Each year, novelties and improvements are implemented. After all, the Capital of Rio Grande do Norte grew and became more important, inside and outside the country, with the Carnatal being responsible for attracting a significant portion of tourists to the city.
When: 02 – 05 December 2021
Rock in Rio
RIO DE JANEIRO
Rock in Rio is a recurring music festival originating in Rio de Janeiro. It later branched into other locations such as Lisbon, Madrid and Las Vegas. Rock in Rio was first held in 1985 in the city of Rio de Janeiro on a site that was specially built for the event. This place, an area of 250.000 square meters known as the "City of Rock", had a stage with an area of 5.000 square meters, two fast food restaurants, two shopping centers with 50 stores, two medical aid centers and a large infrastructure to receive the nearly 1,5 million visitors to the festival.
What better way to experience the Marvelous City than by attending an epic music festival that’s carved a name for itself in the history books. No other music event in the world can boast of a past as legendary as Rock in Rio: with 19 editions, over 9,5 million attendees, and over 2.000 musical acts in its over 30-year run, no doubt it only continues to outdo itself.
Rock in Rio has continued to grow in massive proportions, it now attracts hundreds of thousands of people who gather in the City of Rock for the thrill of a lifetime to see acts that have been known to induce goose bumps. Scream, dance, cry, and rock it out with thousands of other hardcore music fans in an electrifying atmosphere that only this event can deliver.
When: 02 – 11 September 2022
Comic Con Experience
SÃO PAULO
In December, one of the most geeky events of the year takes place: Comic Con Experience (also known simply as CCXP). The pop culture event, which brings together more than 200.000 people, brings to Brazil representatives of large studios and franchises of the cinematographic world.
Imported from San Diego, California, the Brazilian edition of Comic Con happens at the São Paulo Expo exhibition center. Over the four days of the event, visitors will have contact with cartoonists, actors, directors, cosplayers, producers, artists, writers and national and international musicians. Studios such as Fox, Warner, Sony, Disney and Netflix have stands during this event.
Before arriving at São Paulo Expo, download the CCXP application on your phone. There, you will find the most crowded events and appearances, the line-up of artists who will pass through the city and also a map – believe it, you will need to guide yourself. There are a number of free attractions to enjoy during the day, just have patience. The event functions as an amusement park, so plan ahead and choose wisely where you would like to enjoy your afternoon.
When: 02 – 05 Debember 2021
Festas Juninas
NORTHEAST
The Festas Juninas (June festivities) are celebrations that take place in the month of June in Brazil, in which three popular saints are celebrated: Santo Antônio, São Pedro and São João. All of Brazil celebrates this annual event. The major cities have the largest celebrations, though individual events can be found in almost every neighborhood. These are held in different venues, from schools and churches to houses, bars, and event spaces. The largest festivities happen in the northeast of Brazil where the scale of celebrations is similar to Carnival.
The origin of the Festas Juninas is pagan, that is, it is contrary to the Christian doctrine, and thus did not have the religious character that it took years later, and continues to have to this day. Still before the Middle Ages, in the northern hemisphere, people celebrated the arrival of the summer – in the month of June – honoring the gods of nature and fertility, while they asked for an abundant harvest. This happened because it was the season of the harvest of grains, such as corn – which today is the most common ingredient in typical Festa Junina foods.
Bonfires, currently a characteristic symbol of the Juninas festivities, also originated from the pagan party because it was custom to make bonfires during the celebrations. As the church could not end the popularity of this pagan feast, it ended up accepting the Festas Juninas, attributing to them a religious character.
Many traditions that accompany this celebration represent the main symbols of the Festas Juninas, including: the foods, typical dances, balloons, bonfires, games and clothing.
Corn is a very important food in these celebrations and therefore several typical Junina party foods are made from this ingredient. The main typical dishes are: popcorn, paçoca, pé de moleque, canjica, hot dog, pamonha, curau, corn cake, sweet rice, pinhão, couscous and tapioca.
During the Juninas festivities, forró is the main musical genre you will hear and dance to. However, the Junina country dance is still the typical dance of the event. It originates from the ballroom dances from France and consists of a dance of couples dressed in typically caipira clothing.
When: 01 – 30 June
Festival da Cachaça
RIO DE JANEIRO
One of the most celebrated events in the city of Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, is the cachaça festival. For three days in August, dozens of stalls are mounted in the surroundings of the Matriz Church for tasting of cachaças produced in the region. The event hosts a variety of shows and cultural presentations.
For 4 days the city of Paraty is bustling to make this event the success that it has been for more than 30 years. The place of execution is in the area of Pontal, and as well as in the first edition the entry continues to be free. The main intention of the festival is to value the local production of cachaça. The event also has several gastronomic attractions, such as regional product tastings, there is a food square with local traders, food trucks and even food bikes.
The cachaça festival does not only contain foods, delicious drinks, good music and traditional dances, but many games are organized for your entertainment. Among the shows that take place are the following musical styles: Sertanejo, Pop Rock, Chorinho, MPB, Samba and Soul.
With each new year the event has been perfected, causing no year to be the same, and no lack of new programs in the various editions. If you are a lover of food, cachaça, music and fun, your place is at the Festival da Cachaça in Paraty.
When: 13 – 16 August 2022
Festa de Iemanjá
BAHIA
The Festa de Iemanjá, recognized as cultural heritage of Salvador, is a religious celebration in honor of the orixá Iemanjá (goddess of the sea) occurring on the second day of February. In Salvador, capital of the Brazilian State of Bahia, it is one of the most popular and valued celebrations of the year and attracts an immense crowd of people of faith and admirers to the beaches of the Rio Vermelho. Since the 1920s, fishermen of the Bahian capital perform the procession in the middle of the Rio Vermelho sea, accompanied by boats and vessels, for the delivery of gifts to Iemanjá.
When it began in 1923 it was called "Presente da Mãe d'Água", which translates to gift from the mother of water. The tradition began with a group of 25 fishermen who offered gifts to Iemanjá, for her to return the favor in fish. In the 1950s, the official name of the celebration became "Festa de Iemanjá". The goddess of the sea watches over sailors and fishermen and controls their catches. She is very powerful, and is concerned with every aspect of womanhood, fertility and family. She is also the protector of children.
Orixá's celebration day is February 2, but celebrations begin on the night before with the opening of the arbor constructed next to the fishermen colony. Devotees leave the gifts that, the next day, will be placed in the vessels and thrown in the sea.
Traditionally, people make shrines in the sand, offering presents of flowers and beauty products such as perfume, lipstick, jewellery and mirrors. Small replica boats with statues of Iemanjá are made and sent out to sea, as well as white food such as sweet rice and coconut puddings. If your gift is washed up on the shore, it is believed to have been rejected by the goddess. If it continues out to sea, she has accepted your offering and will give you her blessing.
When: 02 February
Lollapalooza
SÃO PAULO
Lollapalooza is one of the world's best known alternative music festivals. It covers genres such as heavy metal, alternative rock, grunge, punk rock and even comedy performances and dances to please all visitors.
Created in 1991 by singer Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for his band, Lollapalooza went through a moment of rebirth in 2003 when the festival passed through North America. As of 2010, the event started to have branches abroad, including in Brazil.
Since 2012 Lollapalooza Brazil has taken place annually in São Paulo, bringing some of the biggest names in music to South America. Artists like Foo Fighters, Black Keys, Pharrell Williams, Metallica and The Strokes have all performed in the past. Each year promises a lineup that fans will love as they rock out at the legendary Autódromo de Interlagos.
The name of the festival – sometimes spelled and pronounced as lollapalotza or lalapaloosa – dates from a late-20th-century American idiomatic sense that means "an extraordinary or unusual case, person or event; exceptional example or instance". Over time, the term was also used to refer to a large lollipop. Paying homage to the term's double meaning, a character in the festival's original logo holds a lollipop.
When: 25 – 27 March 2022
Universo Paralello
BAHIA
This festival has a lot to offer, because it lasts approximately 8 days, something very remarkable compared to the rest of the electronic music festivals; they usually have a duration of two days on average. This festival is considered one of the best electronic music festivals throughout Latin America, because of the duration of the event, the music, art and atmosphere. It’s also one of the most international festivals in the country, and one of the largest alternative culture festivals in all South America.
Universo Paralello happens every two years, during the high time of Brazilian summer (usually starts a few days before New Year’s Eve and ends in the following year), in the most perfect location – the stunning Praia de Pratigi, a hidden oasis on the southern beaches of Bahia.
The Universo Paralello is much more than a psychedelic trance music festival, it is an international gathering of people from different styles and cultures, all together to celebrate peace, love, union, and respect. The festival features several stages but also a bunch of transformational activities. It offers visitors workshops, performances, holistic therapies, artistic and cultural ceremonies, and much more. Not to mention dancing under the light of the moon, feeling the sand between your toes, the sea breeze on your face, and the explosion of the New Year celebrations.
