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Culture · Petrópolis
The Sesc winter festival in the Mountain Region, with concerts, theater, dance and circus at Sesc Quitandinha, in Itaipava and other venues in Petrópolis.
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.
Once a year, between the second half of July and the beginning of August, during winter break.
July/August
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
The Sesc Winter Festival takes place every year during the July holidays and has Petrópolis as one of its hub cities, alongside Teresópolis and Nova Friburgo; the program extends to dozens of locations across the state of Rio de Janeiro.
In Petrópolis, the main stages are usually the Centro Cultural Sesc Quitandinha, housed in the former Quitandinha hotel-casino, and the municipal park of Itaipava. The program gathers concerts by well-known artists, theater plays, dance and circus performances, workshops and street and square attractions.
Tickets for the most sought-after concerts and plays sell out quickly: sales open a few weeks before the festival. Many street activities and workshops do not require tickets. Take the opportunity to visit the Palácio Quitandinha, Sesc’s headquarters.
July is high season in Petrópolis. Book accommodation in advance.
In the city
July/August
June/JulyBetween late June and early July, always including June 29, German Settler Day, a municipal holiday in Petrópolis.
Petrópolis’s German Settler festival, featuring traditional German food and beer, folk dance groups, and events around the Crystal Palace.
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.
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.
Your questions
Mainly at the Centro Cultural Sesc Quitandinha and the municipal park of Itaipava, as well as in the city’s streets and squares.
No. Petrópolis is one of the hub cities, together with Teresópolis and Nova Friburgo, and the program reaches other cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Festivals and events in Brazil
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.
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.
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.
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.