In January, the Estrada Real hosts the Boa Mesa Festival in Caxambu that stimulates bars, hotels and restaurants to show their culinary creativity. In Tiradentes, January is the Theater Showing month that offers free showings in cinemas set up in the city’s squares. Aparecida hosts the King’s Company National Meeting where the spectators make music every day of the festivities.
February is the month of Carnaval on the Estrada Real. The most famous carnivals happen in São João del-Rei, Ouro Preto and Diamantina. The parties are a good opportunity to have fun and take advantage of the festivities in the history hills of Minas Gerais..
In March, Tiradentes hosts the Photography Festival- Foto em Pauta (Photo on the agenda). The event serves as a reference of Brazilian photography and is an opportunity for rich experiences and exchanges with professionals from home and abroad. The traditional celebration of the Tropeiro de Ipoema Museum (Pioneer from Ipoema) is made up of cultural presentations and different musical shows using the traditional viola (10 string guitar). Easter week is a good time to visit Mariana and Ouro Preto which host religious celebrations.
The FLIC (Campanha Literary Fair) in Minas Gerais takes place in April and is organized annually by Sebo Cultural NGO. The Caraça Bier Fest which attracts different craft brews from around the country is held in Catas Altas. There is a celebration in Ouro Preto on the 21st of April, honoring the hero of the Brazilian revolutionary movement (Inconfidência Mineira): Tiradentes.
The Tiradentes Theater Festival is held in Cena, which brings the beauty of theater to the historic city. There is also an International Wine and Jazz Festival which hosts different jazz bands from home and afar. Sabará is the location of the Ora-Pro-Nóbis Gastronomic Festival which brings a large audience. There is also the Quitanda Festival (Greengrocer Festival) in Congonhas where different gardeners from the region show off their products to visitors.
The Corpus Christi festivities happen traditionally in Mariana and Ouro Preto. The São Pedro Festival in Carmo De Minas is a traditional event with the largest bonfire in the southern part of Minas and is registered as part of the municipality’s cultural heritage.
The FLIP, Paraty International Literary Festival, takes place in June. There is also the Winter Festival in Ouro Preto and Mariana that brings diverse cultural attractions to the two cities. Another attraction is the Gastronomic and Cultural Festival of Carrancas which brings various attractions including presentations, tastings, shows, courses, workshops and parties.
The Tiradentes Gastronomy and Culture Festival happens in August, reuniting chefs from renowned kitchens and artists in the same place.
September is the month of the FELIT, the São João del-Rei Literature Festival, which creates a discussion of Brazilian literature and attracts notable cultural figures. There is also the Pastel de Angu Festival in Itabirito, the Festa do Café com Biscoito (coffee and biscuit) in São Tiago and the Encontro Nacional de Palhaços (National Clown Meeting) in Mariana.
The MIMO Festival in Paraty unites music, cinema, cultural heritage and education in one event. There is also the Festa das Rosas e Flores (Flowers and Roses Fest) in Barbacena, and Festival da Batata (Potato Festival) in Ouro Branco.
November brings various events related to gastronomy like the Brumadinho Gourmet, the Folia Gastronômica de Paraty (Gastronomic Joy of Paraty)and Petrópolis Gourmet. Sabará hosts the Jabuticaba Festival and Artisan Festival which explore the endless possibilities for creating delicacies from the fruit which is a symbol of the city. Tiradentes hosts the Duo Jazz Festival, specially dedicated to jazz fans.
December brings the Film and Natal de Luz Festivals to Petrópolis which light up the whole city with orchestras, choirs, theater, cinema and expositions. The Festa de Santa Cabeça in Cachoeira Paulista has a 8km procession from the Main Square to the Sanctuary of Santa Cabeça.
