when not enjoying delicious seafood dishes, attendees can enjoy sports and musical concerts playing - a contest is held for local cooks to see who can create the tastiest, most unique dish using the namesake mussel. 

every year in october ten lucky chess enthusiasts get to compete in the ilha grande torneio de xadrez, the chess tournament - the chess club of ilha grande sponsors the event and participants where the club's shirts in solidarity - five rounds of the table game decide who is the champion of the island.

there is a separate category for junior chess players learning about the sport - the tropical setting lends relaxed, sociable tone and provides a stunning backdrop for the tournament, which works to encourage new enthusiasts to participate in the challenging game.