Traditional festivals in Jaraguá
Jaraguá has festivals all year round. The Cavalhadas of the Festa do Divino, street Carnival and the Festa do Peão (rodeo) are the best known.
Yearly calendar
| When | Festival |
|---|---|
| Early January | Folia de Reis (Three Kings revelry) - groups of revelers visit homes and villages across the municipality. |
| February / March | Street Carnival - street bands, marchinhas (Carnival songs) at the Praça do Coreto and attractions on the Rio das Almas. |
| Date varies (usually between May and June) | Festa do Divino Espírito Santo (Feast of the Holy Spirit) and the Cavalhadas - novenas, processions of revelers, the "empire" and, at the close, the re-enactments of Christians and Moors at the Clube das Cavalhadas. |
| Date varies | Expo Jaraguá - fashion-industry fair organized by ACIJ (editions in November 2025 and July 2026). |
| Week of July 29 | Festa do Peão - rodeo and concerts for the town's anniversary. |
| 1st Sunday of August | Romaria de Monte Castelo - pilgrimage to the village of Monte Castelo. |
Each year's dates and program are announced by the City Hall of Jaraguá and, for the religious festivals, by the Nossa Senhora da Penha Parish. Always check the official program before traveling.
Festa do Divino and the Cavalhadas
The Festa do Divino Espírito Santo is Jaraguá's most traditional religious festival and follows the calendar of Pentecost, so its date changes every year. At its close come the Cavalhadas: horsemen in blue (Christians) and red (Moors) stage, over two afternoons, a contest inspired by the medieval tournaments of the Iberian Peninsula. The 2026 edition was the 193rd, according to the City Hall. History, venue and next edition on the Cavalhadas of Jaraguá page.
Jaraguá Carnival
Street Carnival is one of the liveliest festivals in the region. It opens with the Bloco do Zé Pereira, in which men dress as women and vice versa, and features marchinhas played by the Lira Jaraguense band at the Praça do Coreto, concerts and sports events such as the Ralyboia (a tube race) on the Rio das Almas. In 2011, the organizers reported that the previous edition had drawn about 70,000 people; see the Carnival 2011 report (in Portuguese).
Festa do Peão
In the week of the town's anniversary, July 29, the Festa do Peão features a rodeo, sertanejo (Brazilian country music) concerts and a funfair.
Folia de Reis
In early January, groups of revelers set out across several parts of the municipality, visiting homes and singing in praise of the Three Wise Men, a tradition that lives on in rural areas and in the oldest neighborhoods.
Where to stay during the festivals
On the busiest dates, demand for accommodation rises sharply. Book in advance: see hotels and guesthouses in Jaraguá.
Updated on September 24, 2026