cuisines are not limited to german style, popular foods such as japanese, arabic and traditional brazilian fare are also offered to the hungry masses - german folklore musicians open the festival wearing leiderhosen and get the crowd excited for the activities and events that last day and night through the weekend.

the event came to be around the late 20th century in order to celebrate the anniversary of the city, but was suspended for sometime in the 2000s - in 2012 the maifest was resurrected in the spirits of bringing back a more traditional beerfest on the town's 194th birthday, and it is now considered the second largest beerfest in brazil and more importantly - admission is free and all who come save that money for extra food or fun.

festival de inverno, the winter festival of nova friburgo, began in 1998 but has since been adopted by the rio sesc and is part of the celebrations that happen in the towns of petrópolis and teresópolis as well.