Transform your cultural awareness at Seattle Center Festál: BrasilFest, noon – 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 19, at Seattle Center Armory, Mural Amphitheatre and Fisher Pavilion Rooftop. BrasilFest introduces the broader community to this dynamic and diverse culture, whose homeland is known as the melting pot of South America, with live music, dance, visual exploration, authentic foods, ethnic items for sale, workshops, demonstrations and hands-on learning for kids and adults.
In 1999, Brazilian immigrants brought this high energy festival to Seattle with a mission of introducing the broader community to their arts and traditions at the time of Brazilian Folklore Day. Now, BrasilFest has evolved into a dynamic event that provides a platform for contemporary Brazilian cultural expressions featuring Capoeira presentations, Samba workshops, mask-making activities, drumming performances and Brazilian BBQ demonstrations.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, guests can engage with Brazilian culture and history in a creative and unique way with the BrasilFest timeline. Within the significant dates marked on the timeline, guests put their faces in a cut-out image for a photo opportunity of themselves in traditional Brazilian dress. Another focal point is a large-scale map of Brazil used as an interactive piece to share how guests relate to the regions of the country.
Other featured activities include two panel discussions that involve the audience in conversations about political and social injustices affecting immigrants and artists of color. Young adults Brazilian born, or Americans born to Brazilian parents talk about their challenges and celebrations as Brazilians in the United States. Brazilian and American artists, educators and local arts administrators share their knowledge and research on current events taking place in Brazil and dive into topics such as racism, classism and the activism that have been ignited by leaders such as Zumbi and Marielle Franco.
For full information visit, www.brasilfest.org or the Facebook Event page: https://www.facebook.com/BrasilFestSeattle/
Seattle Center Festál is a public program presented by Seattle Center in partnership with community organizations including Brazil Center. Admission is free of charge. For more information on this festival, visit brasilfest.org, and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.
