Diary Entry
Leaving the coast and the tourist hell of Bombinhas, we head west, passing through the city of Blumenau. The city with the flowery name is proud of its German heritage, which is still evident today in some half-timbered houses and an enthusiastic German community.
Here I also meet a Brazilian named Sandra Bergmann, who no longer speaks German. But there are still language courses and cultural events on German history.
There is a German theme park called “Vila Germânica,” which looks like a section of Europa Park: half-timbered houses full of souvenir shops, restaurants, and beer gardens blaring German party hits.
Three beauties pose for photos as beer queens, a guy in lederhosen and a chamois hat welcomes guests in a bar that serves spade, hackepeter and knuckle.
Want to see more of my trip through South America? Check out my full route!
The Oktoberfest in Blumenau: A piece of Germany in Brazil
The Blumenau Oktoberfest is one of Brazil’s largest folk festivals and has been held annually in October in the city of Blumenau, in the state of Santa Catarina, since 1984. Inspired by the famous Munich Oktoberfest, the festival was originally created to raise funds for reconstruction after the devastating floods of the ItajaÃ-Açu River in 1983 and 1984.
With over 600,000 visitors annually, the Blumenau Oktoberfest has established itself as the second largest folk festival in Brazil, right after the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. The event is not only a gathering place for beer lovers, but also a tribute to the German immigrants who shaped the region. The city of Blumenau was founded in 1850 by Hermann Blumenau, a German pharmacist, and maintains strong ties to German culture to this day.
The festival takes place in the Vila Germânica, an event center with typical German architecture. Visitors can look forward to traditional German music, dance groups, costume parades, and, of course, a wide selection of German beers. Around 600,000 liters of beer are consumed annually. In addition to enjoying beer, there are also competitions such as the “National Team Match,” where participants can prove their drinking ability.
We let ourselves drift through this artificial German town, amused by the clichés that are exaggerated to the extreme. Oktoberfest is a riot, just like in Munich, and Brazilians actually go there in dirndls and lederhosen.
We now finally have to gain ground and begin the long journey east through Santa Catarina. To do this, we first have to follow the ItajaÃ-Açu River. The landscape would be very beautiful if it weren’t raining so heavily.
