Oktoberfest of Blumenau

The Oktoberfest of Blumenau is a festival of Germanic traditions that happens in middle October in the city of Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It is considered the biggest German festival of all Americas, and the one of the biggest Oktoberfest celebration along with the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest and after the original Oktoberfest from Munich.

It takes place at Parque Vila Germânica (Germanic Village Park), located in the Bairro da Velha (District of the Old Woman), and lasts for 17 days.

The Oktoberfest of Blumenau was created at 1984, after a big flooding of Itajaí-Açu river, with the objective of recuperating the city's economy and raising the morale of its inhabitants. Even before that owners of industries and commercial buildings in the city were already planning to make some festival like the original form Munich, but the flood was an important event that set the festival in motion. Since its first edition it has been a success, and today it has an attendance of about than 700,000/year. During the event happens folk dance (Tanzgruppen), shooting matches (Schützenvereine), German singing, folk costume and german cuisine. "Fritz" and "Frida" are the typical German characters. The "Vovó e Vovô Chopão" (Grandma and Grandpa Chopão, "Big Beer") are the official symbolic characters of the event.

A Queen of Oktoberfest is chosen every year. There are 10 candidates, who must compete wearing costumes in the categories posture; resourcefulness on the catwalk; communication skills; beauty and friendliness. If there are more than 10 candidates, there is a pre-selection. The first 3 are classified; the 1st place is elected as the Queen of Oktoberfest, followed by the 1st and 2nd Princess of Oktoberfest.

The National Competition of Chopp in Meter Drinkers is a competition that takes place during the event. By its rules, the competitor has to drink one meter of beer (600ml tulip) without drooling or taking the tulip off the mouth, the winner being whoever drinks in less time. Each night of the competition there is a winner, and at the end of the event it is known who has the least time on all days of competition in the two suits, male and female.

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Wikipedia