Liverpool Festival BRAZILICA Launches this Week in Celebration of Brazilian Culture

Liverpool's annual Brazilica festival returns this this week for the start of a fantastic 9 day celebration of Brazilian culture. There will be a fantastic selection of events taking place between 11-18 July on the build up to the main carnival day on Saturday 19 July.

Kicking off this year's events with a bang on Friday 11 July is the Brazilica 2014 Launch Party at 24 Kitchen St, Baltic Quarter. With the best tunes spun by Liverpool's favourite DJ's and the hottest Brazilian samba vibes, expect nothing less than a dance floor extravaganza to mark the start of Brazilica's biggest and brightest carnival spectacular to date!

There will be a Headdress Making Workshop at The International Slavery Museum on 12 & 13 July, 1-4pm. This event is free to everyone, so prepare for the carnival by creating your own show stopping headdress and take a peek at the carnival costumes.

Once again a Brazilica film programme will be showing a triple-bill of the finest Brazilian films around. On Mon 14 July the first movie on the bill will certainly whet audience's appetite; Estomago follows the highs and lows of Raimundo Donato. In the great restaurant of life there are those who eat and those who get eaten, and Raimundo cooks in order to survive his journey from down and out, to celebrated chef, to prison convict. Featured at the 2008 Raindance Festival, do not miss out on this fabulous film which is being screened at The Brink on Parr Street.

Then City of God 10 years later is showing at FACT on Wed 16 July. This documentary re-joins the actors of 2002's Brazilian Crime Drama City of God 10 years after the Oscar-nominated movie's release. Find out exactly what came of the stars of the movie and learn of their mixed fortunes over the last decade.

On 17 July, Tropicalia will be shown at The Brink. This powerful documentary from director Mercelo Machado explores the scene and its key players of the Tropicalia movement; born in the late 60's it used music and visual arts as a voice to confront the cultural and political establishment. All films are free to watch so don't miss out on the chance to see these excellent examples of Brazilian film.

Then on Friday 18 July, Alma De Cuba will host the annual Carnival Queen Competition. The panel of judges will be hard pressed to pick a winner out of some of the UK's best samba dancers who will each showcase their best routine, most dazzling costume, and of course their sparkling personality and energy in the battle for the coveted title of Carnival Queen.

The main carnival day on Saturday 19 July will see a huge samba band parade travel through the city filling the streets with colour, music and fun. A host of top Brazilian bands and artists will also play throughout the day and for the fourth year running, Williamson Square will host a music stage throughout the day and evening, presented by DJs from 107.6 Juice FM. Revellers will be able to eat, drink and be merry as they experience a great programme of music and samba dancing, with an outdoor 'cocktail shack' and stalls offering the best in Brazilian food.

There will be a wealth of events taking place throughout the day and night throughout the city, celebrating the very best of Brazilian culture. TheLatin American food marketplace at Williamson Square where revellers can sample the delights of traditional Latin American food, enjoying a wide variety of dishes and soaking up all the atmosphere in the heart of Liverpool. The Kazimier Garden will also be serving up great music and even greater food at their Brazilian Barbeque from 2pm. Another perfect place to chill out in town, enjoy the music and bring the family.

Brazilica Street Soccer Festival will name the winner of the Brazilica Futsal Finals after the best 3-a-side football teams compete against each other in the finals of this Merseyside competition brought to you by Halton Street Soccer and Futsal CIC. The Everton in the Community Stage, will also be bringing more music close to the action from 12-6pm on Church Street.

For all the colour and beauty of Brazil, why not visit the Southport Flower Show Stand in Williamson Square. Beautiful Brazilian inspired displays will be on show, promoting their Brazilian themed Flower Show which takes place later this year. Tickets for this year's Flower Show will also be available to purchase at their stand.

Finally, closing this year's Brazilica, The Kazimier will host the carnival after party on 19 July from 10pm. With carnival DJ's and a special guest DJ set from Patrick Forge, the samba and Latin- House vibes are set to keep crowds partying until 3am. A night set to be full of surprises, make sure and come down and enjoy the great music, dance and performances as we say goodbye to Brazilica for another year. Tickets for this amazing Brazilica send-off are just £5, so be sure to join us for the carnival party of the year!

This year's Brazilica programme truly offers something for everyone - for more information on all of the above events please visit www.brazilicafestival.co.uk.