Annual Events
October
Festival of Beer
Blumenau, Santa Catarina
November
Obongo Pro Surfing
Praia Mole, Florianopolis, Competitive surfing is organized by the Association
of Surfing Professionals (ASP) along a two-tier system.
July
Annual Florianopolis
Children's Film Festival
Features, shorts, animation,
documentary
July
Annual Dance Festival
Santa Catarina
Joinville. The Festival
attracts over 200,000 each year. 140 dance groups, both national and
international participate.
Activities and Entertainment
Shopping
Ceramics, embroidery, and
“Floripa” stamped t-shirts are the most popular souvenirs.
Ceramics represent figures
from local folklore such as Boi de Mamão. They also feature the slogans of
the religious parties and the local Azorean people. You can buy the pieces at
Casa da Alfândega, next to the public market, and at Casa Açoriana, in Santo
Antônio de Lisboa.
Cuisine
Sea
food is the base for most of the typical dishes following the traditions of the
Portuguese Azorean people who colonized the island.
Shrimp is popular and the
standard dish is " Sequência de Camarão" which is the Shrimp prepared in
different styles (steamed, fried, etc.) and served in sequence.
Fish
is also popular, cooked in many ways and usually served with rice and Pirão ( a
paste made from fish). During winter, the Tainha fish ( Mugil liza), which is
similar to striped mullet, is the most popular dish. It is stuffed and then
baked.
In Costa da Lagoa
there are many waterfront restaurants serving great seafood at relatively low
prices, but to get there you need to take a boat from the Lagoa centre marine.
Lagoa Azul restaurant is a choice for taste and for value.
On avenida das
rendeiras, Lagoa, there are some restaurants that are very popular with
tourists: Casa do Chico and others serve the standard local dishes.
Santo Antônio de Lisboa and
Sambaqui are good
places to have a drink and eat Petiscos (appetizers), while watching the sunset
on Northern Bay.
Floripa Oysters are famous
and the best restaurants for these can be found at Ribeirão da Ilha Azorean
Village.
To
sample standard Brazilian food ( rice and beans, pasta, salad, etc), you can eat
at restaurants known as KILO, where the food is served buffet style and you pay
by the weight of your selections.
Pizza has become as
Brazilian as Feijoada! Pizza places are everywhere and many have Rodizios
(eat as much as you want and pay one price).
Always popular is
Churrasco, the
typical Brazilian BBQ.
Nightlife
The main concentration of
night clubs, bars and restaurants are in the city centre and Conceição lagoon.
During the summer, the northern area also offers a wide choice of nightlife
venues.
Security is professionally administered, and everyone is checked before entering
a club.
Nightclubs normally charge a
cover charge over and above the cost of food and drinks.
A common feature on Friday
nights, at various nightclubs is “Ladies Free”, where women don’t pay a cover
charge until midnight.
John Bull Pub,
located at Avenida das Rendeiras, Conceição Lagoon is a popular live music spot
which plays mainly rock and blues. The decor is a rock and blues theme and the
atmosphere is casual.
Latidude 27,
on the way to Mole beach at the top of the hill is another popular live music
venue. It has a mix of contemporary music and a beautiful view of Lagoa at
night. Expect crowds where you can barely move.
El Divino Club,
the former Cafe Cancun, located at Beira Mar avenue is a traditional nightclub
which has different themes and popular live bands. Sophisticated decor.
Ilha dos Cascaez,
next to Costão do Santinho is open in the summer only. It features
electronic, hip hop and general dance music. Popular on Fridays with Lady’s
First theme, where women don’t pay a cover charge until midnight.
For those interesting in
FORRÓ, the popular Brazilian dance, La Pedrera in Lagoa is the most
popular place.
