Brazil Travel & Tourism News
BLUMENAU, Brazil – Known by beer lovers the world over for its annual Oktoberfest, the city kicked off Blumenau Sommerfest 2013, Thursday. The festival, a kind of mini Oktoberfest, which also takes place in German Village, drew over nine thousand people opening night.
Unlike Blumenau’s world-famous Oktoberfest, which runs every day, Blumenau’s Sommerfest traditionally occurs on Thursdays only. This year, between Jan. 10 and Feb. 14, the summer party occurs on six consecutive Thursdays.
Like Oktoberfest, visitors enjoyed typical German food, parades, costumes, music, and of course, lots and lots of beer. Visitors got their buzz on with various brands of German and Brazilian-style beers both on draught and in bottles.
Thursday, revelers consumed 6,800 liters (14,371 US pints) of beer, according to organizers. The bands Cruzeiro and Cavalinho energized the crowd with live performances, followed by parades, appearances by the Queen and princesses of Oktoberfest and other attractions inside the pavilion.
Visitors wearing German costumes earned free entry to the party. For others, the R$8 reais (US $4) admission represented a bargain. The party started at 7:30 p.m. and beer lovers of all ages were welcome, with students and seniors paying half price and children under 12 admitted free.
The organizers expect 60 thousand people to attend the six nights of Blumenau Sommerfest 2013. More information is available at the Blumenau Sommerfest 2013 website.
Blumenau’s Oktoberfest is the second largest in the world, behind only Munich, Germany.
