It was not always this popular, but as the years passed, it became so famous that even the Emperor dom Pedro II stared to attend, amongst the hundreds of pilgrims who would arrive in canoes bringing singing choirs and musical instruments.

as of1884, with the arrival of bigger boats came larger crowds and the date was established on the last Sunday of the month, as to avoid overlapping with the Festa de Paquetá, scheduled for the 16th of august.

the São Roque church, after receiving pilgrims and visitors for so many decades, still stands today, and it constitutes one of the most cherished rio's heritages.