By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – From art to fashion to crafts to cuisine, four fairs and festivals will offer something for everyone in Rio de Janeiro this weekend. O Mercado (The Market) will host fashion, art, craft, and food vendors in addition to DJs spinning live in Laranjeiras on Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th while the Antiga fábrica da Bhering in Santo Cristo will once again open its doors for the Circuito Interno on Saturday, June 4th.
The popular fair, O Cluster will return to Casa da Glória on Sunday, June 5th and also on Sunday, Comuna in Botafogo will host the first edition of the Primavera Vegana vegan food festival.
O Mercado – Promoting conscious consumption and the creative economy, O Mercado (The Market) will return on Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th to present a special Dia dos Namorados (Brazilian Valentine`s Day) edition in the Fluminense Football Club in Laranjeiras.
Approximately eighty brands and vendors of fashion, art, crafts, and decor will participate and there will be twelve gastronomic vendors offering food and drinks that include pizza, hot dogs, sandwiches, tamales, risotto, wraps, tea, beer, cakes, candies, and brownies, among other food options.
Additionally, DJs Galalau, Tulio Araujo and Chu will spin during both days of the fair.
What: O Mercado
When: Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th, 2PM – 9PM
Where: O Mercado, Rua Álvaro Chaves, 41 – Laranjeiras
Entrance: FREE
Circuito Interno – The Circuito Interno event will return to Santo Cristo on Saturday, June 4 from 12PM – 8PM. Taking place monthly, the event gives the public an opportunity see behind the scenes of the almost 15,000 square meter former factory and current home to designers, artists and artisans.
Participants during this edition will include Acervo Rio Cena, Antônio Schubert, Atelier do Terraço, Belchior Brechó, Café da Fábrica, Estum, Fazendo Doce, FEIRA, Gulemix na Fábrica, Trapiche Carioca, We do Botânica, and Zsolt.
What: Circuito Interno
When: Saturday, June 4, 12PM – 8PM
Where: Antiga fábrica da Bhering, Rua Orestes 28 – Santo Cristo
Entrance: FREE
O Cluster – The arts, music, fashion and food fair, O Cluster will return for its fifteenth edition on Sunday, June 5th from 1PM – 9PM. Taking place once at Casa da Glória, the fair will celebrate World Environment Day will a special “Por um planeta mais saudável” (For a Healthier Planet) edition.
The special edition of the fair will feature a screening of the 2008 documentary “Food, Inc.” and an urban garden workshop.
“We will address a number of initiatives and actions that impact society directly and indirectly, such as waste management and composting, urban gardening, healthy eating and cooking oil recycling,” event creator Carol Hersz said in a press release.
Organizers state that participating vendors during this edition will offer healthier food options and will include brands that produce products in keeping with the healthier planet theme.
Fashion, craft, and design brands participating in the event during this edition will include Another Hot Brand, Cofi, Quaint, Lahe, Rue, Guarda, Zsolt, Velt, Flow, Aro, Mesclado, Mash up, Nylow, Think Blue, Gaia, Paolla Falcão, Santa Expedita, Bossa Social, John Bags, Poch, Seiva, Cajuina, and Self +. Food vendors will include Bolo do Amor, Cris Cunha, Namasté, Falafel Falafel, Hagar, o sanduiche, Veg House, B burguer and Espirito de Porco.
Additionally, during the event DJs Andrei Yurevitch, Nado Leal, Saens Peña and Vinicius Tesfon will spin.
What: O Cluster
When: Sunday, June 5th, 1PM – 9PM
Where: Casa da Glória, Ladeira da Glória, 98 – Glória
Entrance: FREE
Primavera Vegana – Finally on Sunday, June 5th Comuna in Botafogo will also celebrate healthier food options and vegan and sustainable cuisine as it hosts the first edition of the Primavera Vegana (Vegan Spring) event.
Participants will include Atelier no Jardim, Cake Vegan Cake, Chá Dão, Comuna, Congelados da Dona Regina, Fefa Pimenta, Granola Real, K.Probioticos, Manacá, Mari Marola, No Moo, Paixão Vegan, Prana Vegetariano, Purifica, Slow Bakery, and Umami.
What: Primavera Vegana
When: Sunday, June 5th, 10AM – 4PM
Where: Comuna, Rua Sorocaba, 585 – Botafogo
Entrance: FREE