Oktoberfest in Brazil is a great introduction to the country's German heritage. Inspired in the Oktoberfest in Munich, the Oktoberfest in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, is now one of the world's largest outside Germany.
Because Oktoberfest in Brazil is held in the spring, one of the best things about it is the fact that you can time the top festivals with more southern Brazil attractions - in warm weather. A bit of traveling will take you from oom-pa to the beach, to Iguassu Falls or to some of Brazil's most beautiful mountain destinations, such as São Joaquim National Park in Urubici , SC.
1. Oktoberfest in Blumenau, SC
Photo courtesy of Oktoberfest Blumenau
The Oktoberfest in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, is the largest in Brazil. In 2008, 594,636 people attended the festival and drank 373,984 liters of chopp (draft beer).
In its 26th edition (October 1-18, 2009, Oktoberfest in Blumenau will feature 36 national bands and three bands from Germany: Heidelberg Quartett of Five, Alan Best and Die Original Haderlumpen.
With 292,972 inhabitants, Blumenau is one of the cities in the European Valley, a top Santa Catarina attraction.
Blumenau is 139 kilometers (86 miles) from Florianópolis.
Photo: Blumenau Oktoberfest Parade. Courtesy Blumenau Oktoberfest.
2. Oktoberfest in Santa Cruz do Sul, RS
Photo courtesy of Oktoberfest in Santa Cruz do Sul
Santa Cruz do Sul, a city with about 107,000 inhabitants, hosts one of the largest and most famous Oktoberfests in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's southernmost state. The 25th Oktoberfest will go from October 8-18, 2009.
The festival is a great option for tourists headed for Porto Alegre, 155 kilometers (about 96 miles) away.
The parallel Oktobert Feirasul (October 7-18, 2009), in its 5th edition this year, is an important business event in the area.
Photo: Santa Cruz do Sul Oktoberfest Queen and Princesses.
3. Oktoberfest in Igrejinha, RS
Igrejinha is 80 km (less than 50 miles) from Porto Alegre and on the way to the Serras Gauchas, the state's best mountain destination. The festival is considered the largest community celebration in Brazil, since about 3,000 of the city's 31,113 inhabitants volunteer for Oktoberfest and the profit is fully invested in community projects.
In its 22nd edition this year (October 16-25, 2009), the festival will have live shows and the traditional German Games. Some of the top attractions in the Games are the Viking Battle, in which competitors wrestle on a log, and the couples' Wheelbarrow Race, in which the man pushes his lady in a wheelbarrow.
Igrejinha is known for its extreme sports, from ziplining to hang gliding.
4. Oktoberfest in Marechal Cândido Rondon, PR
Photo courtesy of Marechal Cândido Rondon Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest in Marechal Cândido Rondon is the largest festival of its kind in Paraná. The city is far from Curitiba, the state capital -- over 370 miles. On the other hand, it's 111 miles from Foz do Iguaçu, the gateway city to Iguassu Falls - so you may want to catch the festival when you visit one of Brazil's top natural attractions.
The 22nd Marechal Cândido Rondon Oktoberfest will be held from October 22-25, 2009.
Some of the top attractions in the festival are the Bierwagem parade on the three days before the festival and café colonial, the typical southern Brazil pastry buffet.
