Celebrate 20 Years Of BRASILFEST!

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 brings to light the culturally rich communities who shape the character of our region. Although the series began in 1997, its origins stretch back to when ethnic communities were planting their roots here. For many of them, Seattle Center served as a central place, where they could invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression. Some festivals were formed in response to wars or ethnic displacement and others to unite their communities, educate the public and dispel stereotypes. Now at 21 years, Festál producers are seeking to sustain their festivals with compelling programming that appeals to multiple generations.

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.

About Seattle Center Festál

This illuminating series of 23 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, 4Culture. the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.

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