Last year, BrasilFest’s organizers had to stop all the drums and whistles because the Covid-19 pandemic stopped them from planning a celebration. People missed the opportunity to connect with each other. But this year, the festival was back and the party came recharged.
About a thousand people gathered on Aug. 29 to admire the two things many Brazilians feel most proud of: their soccer team and their Carnival. They enjoyed both at Greeley Park in Nashua.
People samba danced and exercised with two Brazilian fitness coaches that pushed the crowd to sweat those extra calories from the feijoada and brigadieros, two popular dishes sold at the festival.
Roberta Korsenowski, a samba dancer, said she was surprised by the crowd. “Everybody is wearing green and yellow, the Brazilian flag,” she said. “I was so happy, people needed this at this moment especially.”
Lillian Ouidragogo was one of the samba dancers who performed at BrasilFest in Nashua.
Korsenowski has been through hard times during the pandemic. She had to cancel all her
shows. Finally, the festival gave her the opportunity to work again.
Above all, dancing again gave her a feeling of normalcy, she said.
“In our country, we love the feathers and the music, we are happy to see people back again,” said Korsenowski.
Thirty local business stands also joined the festival. One of
them was Neuza Cohelo O’Sullirah’s, from Salvador du Brasil. She was
wearing her traditional costume while she sold acarajé, a small fritter
made from black-eyed peas. Attendees formed long lines to buy them.
— GABRIELA LOZADA, REPORT FOR AMERICA CORPS MEMBER/NH PUBLIC RADIO
