By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The monthly Festival InVentos event returns to Fundição Progresso in Lapa on Saturday, December 19th with a special Christmas edition. Running from 10AM to 8PM, the eighth edition of the event will feature free and paid live music shows, performances, workshops, activities for children and adults, and vendors offering food and inexpensive gifts for the holiday.
During the event the Mercado Fundição (Fundição Market) will offer a wide variety of food will a special focus on bacalhau (salted cod), one of the traditional foods served in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil during the Christmas season.
The lineup of this edition of the festival will include a performance by the Orquestra Johann Sebastian Rio at 12:30 AM, a performance by singer Ivy Morais at 4:30 PM, and a procession with Bloco Rio Maracatu at 5:30 PM.
The event’s workshops and activities will include Bambilêdança – Hoop Rio, hula hoop exercise at 10:30AM (R$10 – R$15); a Guided tour of the nearby cultural areas with historian Mirelli Lima at 11AM; circus Classes focused on movement and play at 11:30 AM; a contemporary dance lesson with Roberta Flavia at 11:30 AM (R$10).
There will be yoga with Mariana Dharini Lannes at 1PM (R$15); an origami and orinuno workshop with Lala Gomes at 2PM; capoeira lessons for children ages four to ten at 2:30 PM; and popular dance lessons with Mário Cardona and Elaine Barreto at 4PM (R$10).
The theatrical performance “Mandando uma letra” (“Sending a Letter”) with Paulo Perira will be presented at 6PM folllowed by “Inútil Chuva” (“Useless Rain”) at 8PM (R$40). In addition to the workshops and performances, during the day, artist Paulică Santos and graffiti artist Fábio Ema will exhibit their works. Boris Descaves will also paint portraits live.
Additionally, the Sea Shepherd ONG ( non-governmental organization), will present the BG500 Project. Featuring projections of the marine fauna of the Guanabara Bay, the project aims to raise awareness of the impacts of daily life on the bay and its marine environment.
For more information and the complete schedule of events, see the Fundição Progresso website.
What: Festival InVentos – Christmas Edition
When: Saturday, December 19th, 10AM – 8PM
Where: Fundição Progresso
Entrance: Many activities are free while some workshops and performances have entrance fees. See the above link for more information.