By Michela DellaMonica, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — The sixth annual Festa Literária de Santa Teresa, otherwise known as FLIST, will take place Saturday May 17th and Sunday May 18th from 8AM to 6PM at the Parque das Ruinas. The festival program is full of literary talks, workshops, musical performances and special guests such as Marina Colasanti and Ziraldo as well as honoring the great samba composer, Dorival Caymmi.
Organizers estimate over 15,000 people came out to the streets to one of Rio’s most charming neighborhoods in the past few years for the FLIST festival, which is sponsored by the Centro Educacional Anísio Teixeira, or CEAT.
Similar to its sister festival in Paraty (FLIP), FLIST offers interactive attractions for children, youth and adults ranging from book launches, meetings with writers, literary and artistic workshops to live music and entertainment.
Activities extend to several points in the neighborhood including the Chácaro Sky Museum, the Teatro Duse, Casa Amarelo and quaint boutiques and restaurants.
“The concept of the FLIST Festival is an important strategy to encourage reading and a proposal for reflection on the process of readers and readers in contemporary practices,” states CEAT Director, Emília Maria Fernandes.
Brazilian authors dominate the program with storytelling with this year’s honorees Maria Colasanti and Ziraldo contributing with musical performances and readings. One of the greats of MPB or musica popular brasileira, Moraes Moreira was chosen to animate the audience in the show’s closing party on Sunday honoring the legendary samba composer Dorival Caymmi.
Santa Teresa can be accessed by bus, taxi or walking, as it still is waiting for the famous bonde tram to come back online. The bohemian neighborhood makes for a great day trip destination in it’s own right, and the Parque das Ruinas has a great view of Rio.
What: FLIST, Festa Literária de Santa Teresa
When: Saturday, May 17th and Sunday, May 18th 8AM-6PM
Where: Parque das Ruinas – Santa Teresa
Entrance: Free