macaé's carnaval features samba school parades at various points throughout the city for four days straight, in both the urban areas as well as in the mountainous regions - the most popular venues around the city for witnessing the samba school spectacles are praia dos cavaleiros and distrito do frade.

festa verão esportivo, held annually at the end of february and beginning of march after carnival has passed normally at praia dos cavaleiros, is a sporting event featuring competitions in a wide variety sports such as racquetball, beach soccer, cycling and volleyball - several combat sports are featured, such as capoeira, judo, jiu-jitsu, karate and tae kwon do, as well as water sports include stand up paddleboarding, bodyboarding hawaiian canoe races.