Calendar of Events of Ouro Preto and Lavras Novas:

February/March:

Carnival - one of the most traditional Carnival Festivals of Minas Gerais. Costume Ball. Parade of carnival ensembles along the streets. Parade of samba ensembles at Tiradentes Plaza.

April:

Holy Week - tradition goes back to the XVIIIth century. The procession enacting the burial of Jesus Christ lingers through the night. A carpet of flowers and wood powder made by residents on the streets stretches over two kilometers, linking the two main parish churches of Antonio Dias and Pilar. White linen drop down the windows and balconies. A matchless pious mingling of colors, scents and sounds.
16 to 21 - Week of the Inconfidência (mementos of revolutionary colonial times)
21 - memorial day of Brazil´s national hero Tiradentes (symbolic transfer of Minas Gerais capital from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto)

May:

1 to 31 - Celebration of the month dedicated to Mary Mother of Jesus in all parishes
1 to 3 - Festival of Santa Cruz Holy Cross (Antonio Dias neighborhood - Ouro Preto)
Festival of Santa Rita (rural district of Santa Rita)

June:

Minas Gerais country-style june celebrations in Ouro Preto and rural districts
Corpus Christi - street pavements decorated with delicate carpets of flowers and colored wood powder cheer the passing of the Holiest Sacrament Procession
Cineop - Ouro Preto Movie Festival
13 - Celebration of Santo Antonio (rural district of Santo Antonio do Leite)

July:

1 to 8 - Town Week (anniversary of Ouro Preto july 8th)
7 to 28 - Winter Festival (artistic and cultural activities, workshops, lectures, etc)
11 - Festival of the Mineiros (rural district of Santo Antônio do Leite)
16 - Minas Gerais State Anniversary
Festival of Santana

August:

15 - Celebration of Our Lady N. Sra. do Pilar (holy patron of Ouro Preto)
Celebration of Our Lady N. Sra. da Lapa (rural district of Antonio Pereira)
24 - São Bartolomeu Saint Festival (rural district of same name)
Farmer Festival (rural district of Amarantina)
Celebration of Our Lady N. Sra. dos Prazeres (rural district of Lavras Novas)

September:

Cavalhadas Festival (enacted tournament - rural district of Amarantina)
01 to 07 - Independence Week (Independence of Brazil september 7th)
16 to 19 - Ouro Preto All is Jazz International Festival
Jubilee of Our Lord Bom Jesus de Matozinhos (Cabeças neighborhood - Ouro Preto)
Celebration of Our Lady N. Sra. de Nazaré (rural district of Cachoeira do Campo)
Celebration of Our Lady N. Sra. das Mercês (rural district of Casa Branca - Glaura)

October:

12 - Anniversary of the Engineering School (UFOP)
           (annual meeting and celebrations of alumni, students and university officials)
Celebration of Our Lady N. Sra. Aparecida (holy patron of Brazil)
30 - Celebration of Our Lady N. Sra. do Rosario (church of Santa Efigênia - Ouro Preto)

November:

12 to 18 - Aleijadinho Week (celebrations in honor of the renowned baroque artist)

December:

08 - Celebration of Our Lady N. Sra. da Conceição