celebrated throughout june, events held at churches, parish organizations, businesses, schools, community and nightclubs become folk parties to celebrate the june saints days - saint anthony on the 13th, saint john on the 24th and saint peter on the 29th.

unlike the wall of samba sound from february's carnival, the festas juninas are sound-tracked by forró, the accordion-led folk music that has as much in common with polka as it does with bossa nova.

cultural events warm up the winter with celebrations such as the august's biennial rio book fair - rio's bienal do livro - for nearly twenty years, the installments of this once-every-two-years publishing fair is held at the riocentro convention center, featuring illustrious appearances appearances that have included mary gabriel, cheryl strayed, emily giffin, and many more.