held on new year's day every year since 1978, the procissão marítima de angra (maritime procession of angra) is a colorful floating spectacle where decorated watercrafts of all sizes are judged by a celebrity panel in categories like allegory, animation and originality, with cash prizes for the winners.

after the hubbub of the arrival of the new year has died down, the january festive season keeps going strong - angra's birthday, commemorating the region's discovery by the portuguese in 1502, is on january 6th, and arrives every year with much fanfare.

festivities begin every year with the corrida dos santos reis, a 5.5k event that attracts runners from all over southeastern brazil and has awards in 26 different categories.