Welcome to Seattle Center
SEATTLE (August 17, 2022) – Seattle Center Festál hosts BrasilFest on Sunday, August 21, 12-7 p.m. at the Armory Food & Event Hall, Mural Amphitheatre and Fisher Pavilion Rooftop. This free, in-person event is open to the public, and this year’s theme is Carnaval.
“We will be displaying pieces of information about this Brazilian celebration and encouraging performers to include Brazilian Carnaval tunes in their sets,” said Eduardo Mendonça, president and co-founder of Brazil Center and BrasilFest. “After two years of producing the festival virtually in response to COVID-19, we are very excited to bring our community together to celebrate Brazil.”
BrasilFest exposes the community to Brazilian arts and traditions during the week of the Brazilian Folklore Day. This is a unique mission, as this day is not usually celebrated outside of Brazil. BrasilFest will feature nine performing groups, totaling about 65 artists along with over a dozen vendors and an afternoon full of workshops. The schedule of programs can be found here.
“Our vision for One Seattle is a city where we uplift and celebrate the diversity of cultures that make our city stronger,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “BrasilFest is an excellent opportunity to honor and share the vibrant cultural traditions of Brazil with the Seattle community through food, music, and dance, uniting us in both our commonalities and differences.”
Since 1999, BrasilFest has been held at Seattle Center.
“Seattle Center is happy to host BrasilFest on campus,” said Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams. “Festàl festivals are all about keeping traditions alive, and that’s what BrasilFest does.”
About Brazil Center
Eduardo and Ana Paula Mendonça, Brazilian immigrants, co-founded the nonprofit Brazil Center, and BrasilFest. It is the area’s best-known Brazilian festival. Eduardo was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. He is a guitarist, percussionist, singer, composer, and director of Show Brazil Productions. He traces his heritage to a royal African family called "Mama Beka", meaning “Prophet of the Royal Court". Ana Paula is a promoter and co-founder of Show Brazil Productions, a Seattle area company created in 1995 to promote Brazilian arts and education opportunities in the U.S and Canada. Ana Paula was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and has lived in the United States since 1987, as a naturalized U.S. citizen. Information on the festival is available at www.brasilfest.org and www.seattlecenter.com.
About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál cultivates a deeper understanding of the cultures and ethnic diversity that contribute to the rich vibrancy of the Pacific Northwest. This unique series links together 24 free festivals presented on weekends from February to November, each with its own cultural focus, identity, and range of engaging activities. 2022 commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Festál, ushering in a new era of hybrid programs during this anticipated return to in-person events. Seattle Center Festál is where the world will gather to celebrate the people, the places, the stories, the traditions, and the next 25 years of innovation. Seattle Center Festál is produced in partnership with 24 different community groups and supported by 4Culture, City of Seattle, and Seattle Center Foundation. Festál is also part of the ArtsFund Cultural Partners Network.
About Seattle Center
Seattle Center is celebrating 60 years with all that is “New, Now, and Next” as Seattle’s hub for arts, sports, community events, and cultural festivals. Originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the dynamic 74-acre campus has transformed over the years to respond to, reflect, and represent the region’s ever-broadening community. Seattle Center and its iconic International Fountain are often referred to as the “Heart of Seattle,” serving as a treasured community gathering place where the local, regional, national, and international visitors come together every day. Today more than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations reside on the grounds, along with a diverse variety of public programs and thousands of events attracting more than 12 million visitors each year. At Seattle Center, part of Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena, our purpose is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. Activities at the Center generate $1.864 billion in business activity and $631 million in labor income.
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Note:
Photos, b-roll, and pre-event/event-day interviews with festival producers, performers, and special guests are available upon request.
Contact:
Meghan McLaughlin, meghan.mclaughlin-c@seattle.gov
