new years eve is a weekend-long beach party in arraial do cabo - live music, djs an fireworks light up the rio town that receives up to 50,000 visitors during the event called festa da virada na praia grande.

each day of the celebration gets bigger and bigger with more events and partying to enjoy, it is considered one of the liveliest réveillon celebrations in rio state.

february, or march when the calendar falls on this month, arraial do cabo celebrates carnival with a variety of local music events, street parties, and costumes - an ideal event for revelers who wish to experience a calmer festivity than in rio de janeiro capital.

in march and april, an estimated 6000 people per day arrive in praia grande for the festival da lula, the now famous festival of squid.