the first week of december also opens the month-long festival of the nativity (festival de presépios). 

this christmas festival is an impressive exhibition of life-size nativity sculptures and scenes across various parts of rio de janeiro - these sculptures and representations are unique works produced by renowned brazilian artists, and have received much international media attention in the past.  

Also scheduled in the same period, the Festival de Noéis, is an exposition of a variety of sculptures representing santa claus, and set along Avenida das Américas in the district of barra da tijuca, from the shopping mall downtown to the Cidade das Artes (city of arts), a building home to many cultural and musical events throughout the year.