Discover Engenho Velho

Engenho Velho can be explored through three specific themes: the history of a sawmill that gave the town its name, the river landscape along the Lajeado Grande, and agriculture with several areas of focus. Cultural events in different formats are another feature. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can decide whether to plan your stay around local history, the landscape or a particular cultural programme.

The history behind the town’s name

Until around 1920, the small settlement of Engenho Velho lay along the Arroio Lajeado dos Lopes. The sawmill, called an “Engenho” by Italians, gave Engenho Velho its name. As timber became scarcer, the Camillotti-Tesser sawmill fell into disrepair and became a ruin. A settlement around a sawmill grew into a village and later a town. The local history thus links a specific economic past with the town’s name and its later development.

River landscape and agriculture

The Lajeado Grande is considered the most important river in the municipality of Engenho Velho. The Cascata de Engenho Velho is also considered one of the municipality’s tourist attractions. The river, pool and waterfall provide several distinctive points of reference in the landscape. Historically, the land on the right bank of the Lajeado Grande basin, starting at the source of the Arroio dos Índios, formed an Indigenous and forestry reserve. The landscape can therefore be understood both through its waterways and through its former land use.

Agriculture focuses on soybeans, corn and wheat. Fruit growing is carried out on a smaller scale, and dairy farming and pig farming are also part of the mix. Soybeans, corn and wheat are the main crops, while fruit growing is more limited; dairy and pig farming broaden the profile beyond crop production.

Festivals, culture and crafts

The XIII Engenho Crioulo, its 13th edition, was scheduled for September 4–12, 2026. The programme for this edition was to include music, gastronomy, culture and activities for the whole family. It therefore brought together several themes and was also aimed at families.

An organising committee was appointed in 2026 for the VII Festival da Canção “Canta Engenho Velho.” The two-day edition, planned for March 2026, was to feature local and national talent. Compared with the multi-day September programme, it has a different format: the Festival da Canção centres on two days of events and the performers, while Engenho Crioulo covers several cultural and culinary areas. Municipal Law No. 1113 also established Semana Farroupilha in Engenho Velho in 2025.

Another cultural connection is the handicrafts made by Indigenous artisans from Aldeia Toldo da Serrinha in Engenho Velho. In 2024, their transport to Porto Alegre for marketing was planned. This connection complements the festival themes with the work of artisans from the Aldeia.

Choose your travel dates and accommodation to suit

When choosing your travel dates, it is important to distinguish between events scheduled for specific dates and the town’s longer-standing features. The festival dates mentioned refer to specific editions in 2026; if you plan to travel for an event, check the date that matches your travel period. The local history, river landscape and agriculture also offer different themes around which to plan your trip. This lets you match your holiday-rental search to your preferred focus without treating the two festival formats as the same.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Santa Maria, São Miguel Das Missões, Taquara, Eldorado do Sul, Uruguaiana, Nova Petrópolis, Torres, Camaquã

For the overall travel guide: Rio Grande Do Sul.