Haiti and Brazil Hit the 'Ville: Haitian and Brazilian Festival

Somerville's Haitian and Brazilian communities are coming together for "Haiti and Brazil Hit The ‘Ville," a cultural festival on Sunday, Oct. 18, featuring music, dance, food, family-friendly activities and more for the entire community.

The festival will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza on Oct. 18, bringing together two of the largest groups within the wider Somerville community that are both served by the SomerVIVA program. Music by the Haitian konpa band SKJ Sakaj, and renowned Brazilian forro band Jatir, will fill the square as festival goers feast on traditional foods such as Haitiian fritay and Brazillian churrasco, purchase handmade crafts, and watch performances of Brazilian jiu jit su and more.

The city's Haitian and Brazilian communities have much in common beyond Somerville, with a budding relationship building over the past two decades between two countries that both celebrate Carnival. Haiti has a love of Brazilian soccer sparked by a 1978 visit by legendary player Pelé to Haiti, while the Brazilian-penned song "Haiti é Aqui" captures the significance of Haiti's history to Brazilians. The largest contingent of United Nations soldiers deployed to the stabilization mission in Haiti are Brazilian, while a large number of Haitian immigrants live in Brazil, which was the first country to contribute to the Haiti Reconstruction Fund after the 2010 earthquake that devastated the nation.

The event is hosted by the City's SomerVIVA immigrant outreach program in partnership with the Somerville Arts Council's ArtsUnion Project.
This is a rain or shine event.  For more information about the festival, contact Jhenny Saint-Surin at jsaintsurin@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2622.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City's ADA Coordinator, Betsy Allen, at 617-625-6600 x2323 orBAllen@somervillema.gov.