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Drummer's Guide to Caxias do Sul: Sweat, Samba, and Surprising Heat

@Olivia Dawn2/11/2026blog
Drummer's Guide to Caxias do Sul: Sweat, Samba, and Surprising Heat

so i'm here again in caxias do sul with my drum kit rattling around in the back of a van that smells like stale coffee and regret. the last time i was here, i played for a *folk band at some vineyard festival that turned into a mud pit. not this time. this time i'm here for the heat. i just looked at the weather and it's currently 35.59°C but feels like 39.73°C, so if you're coming, pack something that breathes and a water bottle that's bigger than your head. humidity's at 44%, which sounds low until you realize it's the kind of dry heat that sucks the moisture right out of your drum skins.

if the city starts feeling like one big
sauna, gramado is just a short drive north. colder, more german architecture, less sweat stains on your shirt. heard they've got a chocolate festival around now. might be worth it for the cocoa alone.


someone told me that the
pão de açúcar viewpoint is best at sunrise because the fog rolls in like a cheap curtain. also heard a drunk dude at the casa do imigrante bar said the local beer here will give you a hangover that lasts longer than your paycheck. take that with a grain of salt.

corn on green and white textile


the
ceramic shops here are wild. found a place near the rua flores da cunha that makes these flower pots shaped like sheep. no idea why. also tried some churrasco that made me question my life choices. Check out the best churrasco joints on Yelp.

white and pink flower in macro shot


i heard from a local that the
festival de uva is next month, but the crowds are insane. like, 'lose-your-sanity' insane. maybe catch it from the rooftop of the hotel planalto instead. cheaper beer too. Get festival tickets here.

a cat with a collar looking at the camera


the
mountains around here are killer for drum tuning. no joke. the acoustics in the parque farroupilha make your snare sound like thunder. also saw a cat with a collar that had tiny little drumsticks hanging off it. true story. Check local transport schedules.

pressure's at 1008 hpa today. not sure what that means except that my
headphones feel like they're crushing my skull. maybe skip the soundcheck and dive straight into the caipirinha*. just a thought.


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About the author: Olivia Dawn

Writing with intent and a dash of humor.

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