{
  "id": 1519934,
  "title": "Atibaia Flower Festival Near São Paulo, Brazil: A Day Trip for Flowers and Japanese Culture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/atibaia-flower-festival-near-sao-paulo-brazil-a-day-trip-for-flowers",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T16:57:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/atibaia-flower-festival-near-sao-paulo-brazil-a-day-trip-for-flowers-and-japanese-culture/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Each September, the hill town of Atibaia in São Paulo, Brazil, transforms into a floral wonderland for the Atibaia Flower Festival. This annual event, held in the town's gardens, showcases a stunning display of flowers and strawberries, alongside a celebration of the Japanese-Brazilian community's influence in the region.\n\nAtibaia, located northeast of São Paulo, boasts a cool and mild climate that is ideal for growing flowers and strawberries. The town's Japanese immigrant farmers have cultivated this industry since the early 20th century, and their heritage is deeply woven into the festival's fabric. The Atibaia Flower Festival, also known as Festa de Flores e Morangos de Atibaia, is one of the largest flower shows in Latin America, marking its 44th edition in 2026.\n\nThe festival offers visitors a day trip filled with colorful blooms, delicious food, and a genuine introduction to Japanese culture. Held in a serene green hill town, the event is an affordable and rooted experience that provides a genuine taste of Brazil's cultural heritage. The festival's address, Avenida Nobuyuki Hiranaka, reflects the strong Japanese presence in the area.\n\nThe 2026 festival runs from September 4th to September 27th, with gates open from 9am to 6pm each day. The best times to visit are early mornings or early in the run, especially on Fridays, when the festival is less crowded and parking is more accessible. Tickets are relatively inexpensive at R$70 (about US$13.50) for a full entry, while students, seniors, and others who qualify pay R$35 (about US$6.75), and there is even a R$50 (about US$9.60) 'partner' ticket for those who bring non-perishable food to donate.\n\nParking is available for a fee, and visitors can reach Atibaia by car in about an hour via the Fernão Dias highway (BR-381) from São Paulo or by bus in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The festival's theme for 2026 is 'Kibō,' which means hope in Japanese, and it promises over 60 cultural presentations throughout the event.\n\nThe festival's main attraction is the vast array of flower pavilions filled with orchids, roses, and other seasonal blooms. In addition to the floral displays, the festival features a Japanese garden, traditional Japanese dishes, and a variety of food stalls offering both Brazilian and Japanese delicacies. Don't miss the strawberries, a highlight of the event, served in various creative ways such as chocolate-dipped strawberries.\n\nThe Japanese cultural program is a heartfelt aspect of the festival, complementing the flower displays with traditional elements like Bon Odori, a communal circle dance, and thunderous taiko drumming. A stroll through the park's tranquil Japanese garden offers a peaceful retreat, and visitors are encouraged to bring a tote bag to collect souvenirs like orchids or strawberries to take home. Comfortable shoes and layers are recommended, as the park's open sections can be breezy, and mornings may be cool while afternoons warm.",
  "summary": "An hour from São Paulo, the Atibaia Flower Festival pairs acres of blooms with Bon Odori, taiko and Japanese food. Here are the 2026 dates, costs and how to get there. The post Atibaia Flower Festival Near São Paulo, Brazil: A Day Trip for Flowers and Japanese Culture appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [
    "Atibaia Flower Festival held in São Paulo, Brazil, from September 4th to 27th",
    "Showcases flowers, strawberries, and Japanese-Brazilian culture",
    "2026 festival's theme is Kibō, meaning hope in Japanese"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}