80 ANUÁRIO BELA SANTA CATARINA | BEM-ESTAR
Ein prosit! A toast to Oktoberfest! The Oktoberfest in Blumenau is known as the second most important German festival in the world and the largest in the Americas. Created in 1984 as a cultural tourism event, it soon gained international prominence.
The boi-de-mamão, a festival of joyful choreography an appealing melodies that attract and engage children and adults alike, has carved its niche at festival. The Terno de Reis (Three Kings) also attracts the audience with its melodies, a cultural expression of Portuguese origin that is kept alive in the folklore of Itajaí and the surrounding region.
The festival is a mix of fun, folklore and cultural richness that are revealed in the passion for music, dance and cuisine, strong German elements of the Germanic traditions brought to Santa Catarina by its colonizers, more than 150 years ago.
Target practice The Schützenfest (Shooting Festival) is the main means of continuing the Germanic traditions of Jaragua do Sul and Vale do Itapocu. Over a period of ten days, championships are held between target shooting clubs from all over the country, together with a folkloric parade and the offer of traditional dishes, all animated by traditional German music played by bands.
Inspired by the festival of the same name held in Munich, the Oktoberfest is a highlight of the Brazilian tourism calendar, and the most important German popular festival in the country, turning Blumenau into the main tourist destination in southern Brazil during October. At the Parque Vila Germânica and throughout the streets of the town, the Oktoberfest is a source of great joy and happiness for promoters and visitors alike. It is a festival of hospitality and social community, with floats decorated with flowers, lively folk groups, German bands, and lots of beer. Duck with red cabbage The town of Brusque entered the itinerary of festivals in Santa Catarina in October 1986, with the Fenarreco, the main attraction of which is a very popular dish among German descendants of the Vale do Itajaí region, the “ente mit rotkohl” (stuffed duck with red cabbage). Traditional side dishes for this delicacy include mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and hearty sauces. At the Fenarreco, visitors will find a pleasant and safe environment to have fun. In the main hall, liveliness is promoted by typical regional bands, some that have even traveled from Germany, playing a mixture of Brazilian rhythms and polkas. The festival serves other German dishes, such as “eisbein” (pork knuckle), “kassler” (pork chop) and “bockwurst” (sausage); everything, of course, washed down by a good-sized mug of cold beer Come and get your fish here! Created in 1987, the Marejada — Portuguese and Fish Festival promotes the inherited culture of the Azorean settlers and fishing traditions, the basis of the economy of the town of Itajaí for many years. In different spaces within the Centreventos Itajaí, the Marejada offers the public various alternatives. Highlights are the traditional Azorean cuisine and folkloric attractions, such as Portuguese dances and the fado music.
Festival of the Immigrant The event is designed to revive and preserve the German traditions of the town of Timbó. It offers the opportunity to connect with the most authentic expressions of the inheritance of German immigrants, such as music, dance, folklore, cuisine and beer. Tirolerfest Every year the town of Treze Tílias, colonized by Austrians, promotes this beautiful festival, far away Tyrol. The joy and festive spirit of dance, music and folkloric groups are contagious among visitors. The saga of the immigrants is portrayed in the parades. Lots of and traditional Austrian dishes are consumed during the event. Heimatfest This festival celebrates the origins of the town of Forquilhinha. Ethnicities of all colonizers are celebrated: German, Italian, Polish, Japanese, Portuguese and African descendants. The event program includes parades, musical and artistic performances, exhibitions and dances. The gastronomic diversity is another attraction. Oberlandfest The German traditions are also celebrated in Rio Negrinho. During the Oberlandfest, traditional dances animated by typical bands, challenges of wood sawyers, shooting contests and contest to see who can drink a meter of beer the fastest, are some of the attractions. And if you’re feeling peckish, there are lots of traditional dishes on offer. Itapiranga´s Oktoberfest First held in 1978 in the community of Linha Becker, a rural area in the municipal district of Itapiranga in the West of Santa Catarina, near the border with Argentina. Locals like to mention that the town was the site of Brazil’s first Oktoberfest, emphasizing the culture of German descendants, such as dance, folklore, cuisine, the custom of beer drinking and shooting.