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Popular festival · Petrópolis
Petrópolis’s German Settler festival, featuring traditional German food and beer, folk dance groups, and events around the Crystal Palace.
In the photo: Petrópolis
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Click a photo to enlarge it.
Bauernfest — Petrópolis
Between late June and early July, always including June 29, German Settler Day, a municipal holiday in Petrópolis.
June/July
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
The Bauernfest, the Settlers’ Festival, honors the German immigrants who arrived in Petrópolis in 1845 and helped shape the city. Held since 1989, it always includes June 29, German Settler Day, a municipal holiday.
The festival’s focal point is the Crystal Palace in the historic center, with stalls serving German-style food such as bratwurst and sauerkraut, beer, folk dance performances and concerts. Events also spread to other spots in the downtown area and districts, and the German Settler House Museum complements the visit.
Weekends and June 29 are the busiest; on weekdays the festival usually runs only in the evening. Bring warm clothing: it’s one of the coldest times of the year in the mountains.
Accommodation in Petrópolis fills up during the festival. Book in advance; from Rio de Janeiro it’s also possible to go and return the same day.
In the city
June/July
May/JuneIn the days leading up to Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter; therefore it falls in May or June.
Paraty’s most traditional religious festival, with a novena, processions through the historic center, and a solemn Mass followed by a procession on Pentecost Sunday.
June/SeptemberEvery two years, in odd-numbered years; generally in September, sometimes in June. · Every two years
The major book fair of Rio de Janeiro held every two years, with publisher booths, author events, and programming for children and young people.
July/AugustOnce a year, between the second half of July and the beginning of August, during winter break.
The Sesc winter festival in the Mountain Region, with concerts, theater, dance and circus at Sesc Quitandinha, in Itaipava and other venues in Petrópolis.
Your questions
It’s Petrópolis’s German Settler Festival, celebrating the city’s German immigration with food, beer, music and folk dances.
From late June to early July, always including June 29, German Settler Day. Each edition’s exact dates are announced by the Petrópolis city government.
Festivals and events in Brazil
July/AugustOnce a year, usually between July and August, for five days.
The literary festival that fills Paraty’s historic center with author talks, debates, and a parallel program spread throughout the town.
JanuaryOn January 20, the day of the city’s patron saint, which is a municipal holiday in Rio de Janeiro.
The patron saint’s day in Rio de Janeiro, with masses and a procession that carries the saint’s image from Tijuca to the Metropolitan Cathedral in the city center.
February/MarchIn February or March, depending on the Carnival calendar, which changes each year with the date of Easter.
The samba school parades at the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome and the street blocos scattered around the city during Carnival days.
AugustOnce a year, in August, from Thursday to Sunday.
The Japanese culture festival of Petrópolis, held at the Palácio de Cristal, with traditional dances and music, martial arts, workshops, Japanese food and a cosplay contest.
AugustIn August, from Thursday to Sunday.
Paraty’s alambique festival, featuring tastings of the region’s cachaças, caiçara food and music, held under the tents at Pontal.
SeptemberEvery two years, in even-numbered years, over two weekends in September. · Every two years
The music festival at Cidade do Rock, set up in the Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca, with multiple stages and Brazilian and international artists.