What's on in Belém, Brazil through the year

Peak crowds — Christmas and Réveillon, Summer holidays in Brazil

• Festival

  Belem's birthday

  10–12 Jan · usuallyMajor festival

  The city marks its 1616 founding on 12 January with free concerts, exhibitions and a giant birthday cake cut at Ver-o-Peso; it is an optional day off for city staff rather than a full holiday. Source ↗

• Hazard

  Rain and spring-tide flooding

  15 Jan – 30 Apr · usuallyFlood season

  At the height of the Amazonian winter, heavy afternoon rain meeting the highest tides of the year, above all around March, floods low streets near the canals and the waterfront; check tide tables before planning a day around the old town. Source ↗

Still on: Christmas and Réveillon (24 Dec – 1 Jan)

Peak crowds — Carnaval week, Summer holidays in Brazil

• Festival

  Carnaval week

  14–18 FebCarnivalCrowdedBook earlyClosures

  Carnaval is Brazil's biggest holiday: banks, offices and many shops close from Monday to midday on Ash Wednesday, and Brazilians travel in huge numbers, so flights, buses and rooms sell out and cost the most of the year. Book well ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Rain and spring-tide flooding (15 Jan – 30 Apr (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Rain and spring-tide flooding (15 Jan – 30 Apr (usually)), Carnaval week (14–18 Feb)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Rain and spring-tide flooding (15 Jan – 30 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Arrastões do Pavulagem, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Arrastões do Pavulagem

  11 Jun – 5 JulMajor festivalCrowded

  June Sundays belong to a drum-and-brass procession that anyone can walk in, starting at Praça da República and tens of thousands deep by the time it reaches the waterfront. Free, and the best thing the city does. Source ↗

• Season

  Amazonian summer

  15 Jun – 30 Nov · usuallyDry season

  Locals call the drier half of the year the Amazon summer. The afternoon downpour stops being a daily certainty, the river beaches on Mosqueiro and Marajó open, and the weekend boats out of the city fill.

Peak crowds — Arrastões do Pavulagem, July winter break in Brazil

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Amazonian summer (15 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

• Season

  Açaí harvest

  1 Aug – 15 Dec · usually

  The main açaí crop reaches the Ver-o-Peso quays from about August, when the thick purple pulp is at its best and cheapest. Out of season the price climbs sharply and the quality drops. Source ↗

Still on: Amazonian summer (15 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Amazonian summer (15 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)), Açaí harvest (1 Aug – 15 Dec (usually))

Busy — Círio de Nazaré

• Festival

  Círio de Nazaré

  10–26 OctReligious feastCrowdedBook earlyClosures

  On the second Sunday of October a couple of million people walk behind the rope with the image, and the fortnight around it is the city's real Christmas: family lunches, closed streets, no beds left. Source ↗

Still on: Amazonian summer (15 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)), Açaí harvest (1 Aug – 15 Dec (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Amazonian summer (15 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)), Açaí harvest (1 Aug – 15 Dec (usually))

Peak crowds — Christmas and Réveillon, Summer holidays in Brazil

• Holiday

  Christmas and Réveillon

  24 Dec – 1 JanChristmas & New YearClosuresCrowded

  Christmas Day and New Year's Day are national holidays: many shops, restaurants and attractions close on both, a good share of residents leave town in the week between, and New Year's Eve, Réveillon, brings fireworks and crowds dressed in white. Source ↗

Still on: Açaí harvest (1 Aug – 15 Dec (usually))