Brazil’s winter festival Festa Junina comes to Hotel Brunswick

THE Northern Rivers’ Brazilian community will come together this Saturday 27 June to celebrate the Festa Junina midwinter festival at Hotel Brunswick.

Translated as “June Festivals”, Festa Junina was introduced to Brazil by Portuguese settlers and has grown into one of the country’s most significant cultural celebrations. The festival honours Catholic saints Anthony, John the Baptist and Peter with harvest-themed festivities, colourful rural costumes, traditional forró music and quadrilha folk dancing.

The free community event is organised by Ocean Shores resident Thiago Barbosa and his business partner Rodrigo Ferraz from Reunion Australia Entertainment, who have been hosting Brazilian cultural events across the region for nearly two decades.

The pair met shortly after Barbosa arrived in Australia from Brazil in 2006 to study English and decided to make Australia home.

Barbosa said Brazil’s rich cultural identity was shaped by a wide range of influences, including Indigenous traditions.

“Our passions are always shining through in our day-to-day life and that comes from the way we live back home,” he said.

“We hear from a lot of people that interacting with the Brazilian community brings a lot of joy to their life.

“There are more than 50,000 Brazilians in Australia and a large population live on the Gold Coast and in the Northern Rivers.

“The idea is to showcase the country culture and that comes with traditional food, traditional music and people dress up in a country style.”

Barbosa and Ferraz host a series of seasonal Brazilian celebrations at Hotel Brunswick throughout the year, including Carnaval in March, Tropikalia in September and Roots of Brazil in December.

For more information, visit hotelbrunswick.com.au