Radisson Hotel Alphaville

This is a major annual event -- São Paulo's previous Gay Pride Parades drew more than two million people, making it...

This is a major annual event -- São Paulo's previous Gay Pride Parades drew more than two million people, making it the biggest in the world. The parade wends its way down Avenida Paulista with revelers in rainbow colored costumes, about 20 sound trucks blasting dance tracks, and banner carriers and flag wavers. It is a sight to behold, with throngs of people as far as the eye can see. The parade is preceded by several days of related events -- debates, parties, film screenings and more.

Hours: Sun, Jun 24, 2012: Noon

Held in even-numbered years, this vast art exhibition draws in over a million visitors. Organized by the Museu de Arte...

Held in even-numbered years, this vast art exhibition draws in over a million visitors. Organized by the Museu de Arte Moderna, the exhibition is an international one, with art and attendees from around the globe. Although the organizers state that the entire exhibit can be seen in about eight hours, it is broken down into smaller thematic chunks so it is quite possible to take a few days to appreciate the hundreds of artists spread across the 30,000 square meters of exhibit space at the Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion. During odd numbered years, the museum presents the younger but no less inspiring Biennial for Architecture and Design.

Hours: Event times vary; call for details Fri, Sep 7, 2012 Sat, Sep 8, 2012 Sun, Sep 9, 2012 Mon, Sep 10, 2012 Tue, Sep 11, 2012 Wed, Sep 12, 2012 Thu, Sep 13, 2012 Fri, Sep 14, 2012 Sat, Sep 15, 2012 Sun, Sep 16, 2012 Mon, Sep 17, 2012 Tue, Sep 18, 2012 Wed, Sep 19, 2012 Thu, Sep 20, 2012 Fri, Sep 21, 2012 Sat, Sep 22, 2012 Sun, Sep 23, 2012 Mon, Sep 24, 2012 Tue, Sep 25, 2012 Wed, Sep 26, 2012 Thu, Sep 27, 2012 Fri, Sep 28, 2012 Sat, Sep 29, 2012 Sun, Sep 30, 2012 Mon, Oct 1, 2012 Tue, Oct 2, 2012 Wed, Oct 3, 2012 Thu, Oct 4, 2012 Fri, Oct 5, 2012 Sat, Oct 6, 2012 Sun, Oct 7, 2012 Mon, Oct 8, 2012 Tue, Oct 9, 2012 Wed, Oct 10, 2012 Thu, Oct 11, 2012 Fri, Oct 12, 2012 Sat, Oct 13, 2012 Sun, Oct 14, 2012 Mon, Oct 15, 2012 Tue, Oct 16, 2012 Wed, Oct 17, 2012 Thu, Oct 18, 2012 Fri, Oct 19, 2012 Sat, Oct 20, 2012 Sun, Oct 21, 2012 Mon, Oct 22, 2012 Tue, Oct 23, 2012 Wed, Oct 24, 2012 Thu, Oct 25, 2012 Fri, Oct 26, 2012 Sat, Oct 27, 2012 Sun, Oct 28, 2012 Mon, Oct 29, 2012 Tue, Oct 30, 2012 Wed, Oct 31, 2012 Thu, Nov 1, 2012 Fri, Nov 2, 2012 Sat, Nov 3, 2012 Sun, Nov 4, 2012 Mon, Nov 5, 2012 Tue, Nov 6, 2012 Wed, Nov 7, 2012 Thu, Nov 8, 2012 Fri, Nov 9, 2012 Sat, Nov 10, 2012 Sun, Nov 11, 2012 Mon, Nov 12, 2012 Tue, Nov 13, 2012 Wed, Nov 14, 2012 Thu, Nov 15, 2012 Fri, Nov 16, 2012 Sat, Nov 17, 2012 Sun, Nov 18, 2012 Mon, Nov 19, 2012 Tue, Nov 20, 2012 Wed, Nov 21, 2012 Thu, Nov 22, 2012 Fri, Nov 23, 2012 Sat, Nov 24, 2012 Sun, Nov 25, 2012 Mon, Nov 26, 2012 Tue, Nov 27, 2012 Wed, Nov 28, 2012 Thu, Nov 29, 2012 Fri, Nov 30, 2012 Sat, Dec 1, 2012 Sun, Dec 2, 2012 Mon, Dec 3, 2012 Tue, Dec 4, 2012 Wed, Dec 5, 2012 Thu, Dec 6, 2012 Fri, Dec 7, 2012 Sat, Dec 8, 2012 Sun, Dec 9, 2012

Instituted in 1977, this annual festival has achieved international status as a premier event. With nearly 400 features...

Instituted in 1977, this annual festival has achieved international status as a premier event. With nearly 400 features and 70 short films at about 20 theaters, as well as countless lectures and workshops with today's top filmmakers, this festival is an event not to be missed. Films from recent years include Serenity by Joss Whedon, Brokeback Mountain by Ang Lee, Broken Flowers by Jim Jarmusch, and Where the Truth Lies by Atom Egoyan. The program usually includes a retrospective of one or two filmmakers' works, such as Manoel de Oliveira or Ingmar Bergman.

Hours: Event times vary; call for details Fri, Oct 19, 2012 Sat, Oct 20, 2012 Sun, Oct 21, 2012 Mon, Oct 22, 2012 Tue, Oct 23, 2012 Wed, Oct 24, 2012 Thu, Oct 25, 2012 Fri, Oct 26, 2012 Sat, Oct 27, 2012 Sun, Oct 28, 2012 Mon, Oct 29, 2012 Tue, Oct 30, 2012 Wed, Oct 31, 2012 Thu, Nov 1, 2012

Amongst Brazilian sports fans, racing is second only to football in popularity. The Interlagos race track is located...

Amongst Brazilian sports fans, racing is second only to football in popularity. The Interlagos race track is located about 16 kilometers south of São Paulo, and is generally thought to be one of the most challenging tracks on the Formula One circuit. It is occasionally chosen to host the prestigious final round of the season, as well. Interlagos can seat about 80,000 spectators, and tickets sell out at lightning speed, so plan well in advance!

Hours: November 2012

Although not quite as spectacular yet as the celebration in party-city, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo's Carnival is...

Although not quite as spectacular yet as the celebration in party-city, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo's Carnival is fast approaching it not only in terms of size but as an attraction for tourists. It's every bit as festive, colorful, joyful and crazy, but people generally consider it to be more authentic and closer to its origins than Rio's. It doesn't really matter, of course, because if you're lucky enough to be in Sampa in early February, you're sure to catch that Carnival spirit! As in Rio, the official parade, comprised of countless costumed performers, floats and bands, winds its way through the purpose-built Sambodromo grounds, an open air stadium which can seat about 30,000 spectators. Additional unofficial parades and festivities take place all over the city.

Hours: Fri, Feb 8, 2013 Sat, Feb 9, 2013 Sun, Feb 10, 2013 Mon, Feb 11, 2013 Tue, Feb 12, 2013

Started in the 1920s, this is the oldest continuously run race in Brazil. It's not truly a marathon, however -- it's...

Started in the 1920s, this is the oldest continuously run race in Brazil. It's not truly a marathon, however -- it's actually 15km (9.3 miles). The race usually reaches capacity of 15,000 runners; in 2004 there were 13,000 men and 2000 women participants. On December 29 there's also a series of children's races called São Silvestrinha, which attracts about 2000 boys and girls aged 6-15.

Hours: Mon, Dec 31, 2012