A local nonprofit is sponsoring a new Brazilian Day Festival celebrating the country’s culture with a street fair, parade, music, and carnival on Saturday, Sept. 2 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at NTC Park Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road in Point Loma.
“Our idea behind organizing the BDF was to give Brazilians a chance to feel at home, and to give locals a chance to be at home in Brazil,” said chef Brady Farmer, a native Brazilian and president of Devoted to Youth Foundation, a nonprofit helping underprivileged youth and families in need. “The event is full of entertainment, music, dance, and food, with a kid’s area and an adult game area. We’re raising money to help Brazilian families in California and Brazil start businesses to become more self-sufficient.”
Brazilian Day festivities were previously held in Pacific Beach, and then at Belmont Park in Mission Beach. “We are not that event,” said Brady Farmer. “Ours is a more family-orientated, different-themed event focusing on all of the cultures in Brazil, the food, music, people, and businesses there. There’s so much more to Brazil than what is commercialized.”
Farmer and his wife, Mariana Panzica Farmer, opened a weekly farmers market on Sundays at Point Loma High School from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. starting in June this year as an ideal method to help the cause of Devoted To Youth Foundation. “Families were struggling after the pandemic to find jobs and provide for themselves,” said Mariana. “We were seeing what we could do with our nonprofit to help.”
Liberty Station was an ideal setting to host a Brazilian cultural festival.
“Point Loma has one of the biggest Brazilian populations on the West Coast,” said Brady. “It’s dubbed as the home to Brazilians. If you need to move to California, you need to live in Point Loma.”
“The BDF was an initiative of the Devoted To Youth Foundation to support Brazilian families in need of opportunities,” said Mariana Panzica Farmer noting, “Our organization has been putting on events to gather funds for our cause since 2011. We always wanted to support our home country, and this was the perfect event to do so. We chose NTC Point Loma because it is a beautiful open-air space with plenty of room for a kid’s area, a stage, a VIP lounge, beer gardens, an eating area, and a field that can accommodate a nice crowd.”
BDF will have a main stage with a lineup featuring amazing artists and live music from the diverse Brazilian culture. Two of the festival’s main artists are Brazilian singer Saulo Fernandes, and fresh talent Flor De Maria Jorge, daughter of famous singer and actor Seu Jorge, who sings rhythm and blues and soul.
“We will have a large list of food items and arts, crafts, and fashion vendors, as well as exhibitors showcasing their businesses,” said Mariana adding, “You will find the best variety of Brazilian cuisine, famous drinks, and beer at two beer gardens. You can also have a premium experience in the VIP area. This is a fundraising event that will support underprivileged families and children in Brazil. We are donating event profits to those who need tools to achieve a better life. We want to help mothers and fathers who are struggling, so they can get back on their feet.”
“The BDF is San Diego’s newest attraction,” said Brady Farmer. “It’s quickly becoming a destination event, right here in Point Loma’s backyard in Liberty Station, a place where thousands of people from all over the world flock each week to enjoy so many awesome cultural activities. The BDF is a music fest with an emphasis on Brazilian culture, food, dance, and lifestyle. The BDF has lots to do, see, and hear and has a fun, safe activity area for kids and families. Join Devoted to Youth Foundation and make a difference in Point Loma and around the world.”
BRAZILIAN DAY FESTIVAL
When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2.
Where: NTC Park at Liberty Station.
Tickets and info: https://allevents.in.
Artists/Influencers: Karen Kardasha, Saulo Fernandes, Flor Jorge, DJ Flavia, Calisamba, Resenha California.
