Public holidays in Porto Alegre
Brazil already has a lot of holidays. Rio Grande do Sul adds more. Shops vanish. Plan around 20 September.
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National holidays close banks and a lot of government. State and city days close more. The supermarket that was open on Sunday may die for Dia do Gaúcho.
The ones that eat your week
- 1 January: New Year. The waterfront is a party. 2 January is quiet.
- 2 February: Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes. City holiday. A procession on the Guaíba. Municipal offices close.
- Carnaval: dates move. Porto Alegre is not Salvador. Some people leave. Some people stay in Cidade Baixa. Offices ghost.
- Sexta-feira Santa / Páscoa
- 21 April: Tiradentes
- 1 May: Labour Day
- Corpus Christi
- 7 September: Independence
- 20 September: Revolução Farroupilha / Dia do Gaúcho. This one is ours. Parade, bombacha, chimarrão, closed everything.
- 12 October: Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Children’s Day gravity
- 2 November: Finados
- 15 November: Republic
- 20 November: Consciência Negra (national holiday since 2024)
- 25 December
Always look at the calendário de Porto Alegre for the year you are in. City days can close municipal things even when São Paulo is working.
Sundays
Malls open. Small shops often do not. The feira in Bom Fim is a Sunday religion. Plan groceries like a European, then cheat at Zaffari.
Summer slowdown
January is when locals go to the coast (Capão, Torres, the lakes). Getting a burocrata on the phone is a sport. If you can, do DETRAN and PF before everyone hits the beach.