Three Fairs and Festivals to Check Out in Rio this Weekend

By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In addition to the Olympics and the multiple events surrounding the games, three well-known food, clothing, art, and music fairs and festivals will take place, free to the public, in Rio de Janeiro this weekend on Saturday, August 6th.

Feira Rio Antigo – Considered one of the best monthly events in the city, the Feira Rio Antigo will return to Rua do Lavradio in Lapa on Saturday, August 6th with a special Olympics edition.

Established nearly twenty years ago, the fair has become one of the most respected and highly-anticipated monthly events in the city.

Commonly referred to as Feira do Lavradio (Lavradio Fair), the event takes place on the first Saturday of the month, filling Rua do Lavradio with over four hundred exhibitors offering products ranging from handicrafts to books to antiques.

This edition of the fair will also feature two special live performances. At 2PM, Cia Jovem Dança CCC will present ‘Samba e as coisas das ruas do Rio’ (Samba and things from the streets of Rio). Then at 4:30 PM Adriana Dutra and the group Nega de Crioulo will perform the best of classic samba and MPB.

What: Feira Rio Antigo – Edição Olímpica
When: Saturday, August 6th, 10AM – 7PM
Where: Rua do Lavradio, Lapa
Entrance: FREE

Circuito Interno – From 12PM to 8PM in Santo Cristo, the Circuito Interno event will return to the Antiga fábrica da Bhering. Taking place monthly, the event gives the public an opportunity see behind the scenes of the almost 15,000 square meter former factory and current home to fashion designers, artists, craftspeople and many from the gastronomic industry.

The Antiga Fábrica da Bhering, often referred to simply as Fábrica da Bhering, is a six-story building that offers panoramic views of the city’s Zona Portuária (Port Zone). It was originally built in 1934 as a factory for Bhering chocolates but the repurposed factory is now home to many talented Rio de Janeiro creatives.

What: Circuito Interno
When: Saturday, August 6th 12PM – 8PM
Where: Antiga fábrica da Bhering, Rua Orestes 28 – Santo Cristo
Entrance: FREE

Baile Tropical – Finally, nearby in Praça Da Harmonia in the neighborhood of Gamboa in the Port Zone, the Baile Tropical party will take over the square from 4PM to 10PM.

Saturday will be the 100th edition of the party which originated in the Northern Brazilian city of Belém in Pará and has since taken place in four continents.

With performers and DJs presenting everything from samba to trap to cumbia to moombahton and more, the lineup during the event will include Patricktør4, DJ Sankofa, Béco Dranoff, and Andrei Yurievitch.

Additionally during the day, there will be food vendors offering the best cuisine from the five regions of Brazil.

What: Baile Tropical #100
When: Saturday, August 6th, 4PM – 10PM
Where: Praça Da Harmonia, Rua Sacadura Cabral, 537 – Gamboa
Entrance: FREE