São João Festival Tour from Campina Grande: Parque do Povo

Ride a festival bus to Brazil's largest São João celebration with live music and local food

This tour departs João Pessoa for Campina Grande's Parque do Povo during the São João festival, the largest celebration of its kind in Brazil. You travel on a themed bus with a guide dressed as a matuto, enjoy a forró pé de serra trio performance during the 1h30 journey, and taste award-winning Paraíba cachaças and local snacks. At the park, entry is free and you move between the gastronomy island, Nova Rainha island with regional crafts, and stages hosting forró shows.

Step-by-step itinerary

São João Festival in Campina Grande

• Pick up at João Pessoa hotels
• Board São João themed bus
• Enjoy forró pé de serra show onboard
• Taste traditional Paraíba cachacinhas and snacks
• Travel 1h30 to Parque do Povo
• Explore gastronomy and crafts islands
• Enjoy live shows and forró pé de serra
• Return 1h30 to João Pessoa

What’s included

• Pickup at a João Pessoa coastal hotel.
• air-conditioned themed bus with a guide dressed as a matuto.
• live forró pé de serra trio performance during the journey.
• on-board service with water, soft drinks, popcorn and corn snacks.
• tastings of award-winning Paraíba cachaças.
• free entry to Parque do Povo.

Times

• Wednesday to Sunday No fixed time

Before you book

Group Up to 100

Live guide Portuguese

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Ages Adult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Pets welcome Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Luck Receptivo João Pessoa

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

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The experience

The tour picks you up at a João Pessoa coastal hotel and boards a bus decorated for the festival, where a guide in traditional matuto dress sets the tone. During the roughly 1h30 drive to Campina Grande, a forró pé de serra trio performs live on board. The on-board service includes water, soft drinks, popcorn and corn snacks, plus tastings of award-winning cachaças made in Paraíba: the kind of detail that separates this from a straight transfer.

Parque do Povo requires no entry fee. The park is built around three main zones: the gastronomy island where you can eat regional food, Nova Rainha island featuring crafts and goods from Paraíba, and multiple stages hosting live forró pé de serra performances throughout the day. The guide stays with the group, so you have someone who knows the layout and can point out what matters. The return journey to João Pessoa takes another 1h30.

The full day runs 10 to 13 hours depending on how long you stay in the park and which performances you catch. The air-conditioned bus means you're comfortable during both legs of the journey, and the live music and food tastings start before you even arrive, so the festival atmosphere begins the moment you board.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the forró pé de serra trio that performs on the bus?

Forró pé de serra is a traditional Northeastern Brazilian music style played by a trio of live musicians. On this tour, the trio performs during part of the journey to Campina Grande, setting the festival mood from the start.

Can I stay longer at Parque do Povo if I want to see more shows?

Yes. The tour duration is 10 to 13 hours, which accounts for varying amounts of time at the park. You can spend as much time as you want exploring the gastronomy island, Nova Rainha island and the stages before heading back to João Pessoa.

Is there a cost to enter Parque do Povo?

No. Entry to Parque do Povo is free. You pay only for the tour, which includes the bus, guide, on-board service and transportation to and from the park.

What is Nova Rainha island in the park?

Nova Rainha island is one of the main zones inside Parque do Povo, dedicated to crafts and goods from the state of Paraíba. You can browse and shop for regional items while exploring the festival.