Feira de Artes e Artesanatos

On Sundays, Avenida Afonso Pena around the Parque Municipal turns into one of the largest and most frantic outdoor flea markets in South America, locally known as the Hippie Fair. The fair has more than 1,000 stalls full of handcrafted jewelry, furniture, clothing, accessories, household items, crafts, and paintings. You’ll find some really different stuff too, like handmade flags, original toys, plastic, and ceramic items. There are lots of food stands, but if you prefer a complete lunch, then you should hit the self-service restaurants in the Shopping Cidade mall (Rua Rio de Janeiro 910) when you’re finished with the fair. Better yet, the view of the fair from the Othon Palace Hotel restaurant is unbeatable (Av. Afonso Pena 1050). The shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at the market can be overwhelming to some, so be careful not to get too flustered, as it makes you more vulnerable to theft. Take plenty of breaks in the lanchonetes alongside the stands to regroup. The fair goes from 7 a.m.–2 p.m. but most of the stands are already breaking down by 1 p.m.