Seattle Center Festál: BrasilFest showcases the lively music, martial arts, food and cultural roots of this South American nation, 12pm-7pm, Sunday, August 21, at Seattle Center Armory, Mural Amphitheatre and Fisher Roof.
The 18th annual festival celebrates Amazonas, the largest Brazilian state by area. This tropical carnival provides opportunities to learn about the region and examine the culture and value of the Amazon River and Rainforest, where the region gets its name. Carnation, Wash. based writer Jessica Wambach Brown presents the lecture “Nipo-Brasileiros in the Amazon,” drawing attention to the Japanese population in the state.
Thrilling dance and Capoeira performances fill the day, featuring Bahia in Motion, Dora Oliveira and Dance Brazil, Show Brazil! and VamoLá. Visitors of all-ages and skill levels can join the fun in dance workshops led by Dora Oliveira and Bahia in Motion. Engage in a roda de capoeira (capoeira wheel) as participants form a ring around capoeiristas performing this Brazilian martial art, blending dance, acrobatics and music.
Learn about the diverse influences on Brazilian music in performances by Onda Verde, Batucada Yemanjá, Choro da Alegria, Seattle Brazilian Jazz Ensemble, Tambor e Cordas, Island Choro Society and Som do Sol. The lively performances culminate in a participatory percussion jam and parade from Mural Amphitheatre to Fisher Roof.
A marketplace offers Brazil’s national dish, feijoada (beef, pork and bean stew), savory treat pastel (a fried thin crust pie with an assortment of fillings) and one-of-a-kind merchandise. “Brazil on the Road” food truck makes a special stop at Seattle Center, serving delicious traditional cuisine.
As Seattle Center Festál prepares for a milestone in 2017, the 20th anniversary of this illuminating series of ethnic cultural events at Seattle Center, we celebrate the diverse arts, crafts, foods and family activities presented on weekends throughout the year. The 23 Festál events, organized by ethnic/cultural organizations in partnership with Seattle Center, form the bedrock of our free, public offerings, captivating and enlightening festival-goers as they experience the distinct cultures that influence the character and course of our broader community.
Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit Seattle Center or call 206 684-7200. Learn more about Seattle Center Festál: BrasilFest at: www.brasilfest.org.
