On July 26, Marian Fryer Town Plaza came alive with the music, dancing, flavors, colors, and communal joy of the first annual Festa Julina Wheaton: Brazilian Summer Festival in Maryland. Presented by Casa da Cultura Brasileira EducArte, this free, family-friendly celebration welcomed approximately 1,000 people—including Brazilian and Latin American families, artists, small businesses, neighbors from across Montgomery County, and visitors from around the region.
Inspired by the beloved Festa Junina and Festa Julina traditions celebrated throughout Brazil, the festival brought the warmth and energy of Brazil’s harvest-season festivities to downtown Wheaton. Attendees gathered for an afternoon of Brazilian music, dance, food, art, and connection, sharing traditions that many Brazilian immigrants remember from childhood, family celebrations, school gatherings, and community festivals.
EducArte is rooted in the Brazilian community we serve. For us, this work is not simply about presenting Brazilian culture; it is about creating a space where Brazilian artists, families, businesses, and culture-bearers can share their own stories with pride. We also warmly welcome non-Brazilians who want to experience, learn about, and participate in these wonderful traditions. Cultural exchange is strongest when it begins with the people and communities for whom the culture is lived experience.
Festa Julina was intentionally planned for Wheaton because it is one of the central gathering places for Brazilian life in the greater Washington region. Many Brazilian families live, work, shop, and gather in Wheaton, and the neighborhood is home to a remarkable concentration of Brazilian markets, restaurants, bakeries, and small businesses. Its accessible location and vibrant commercial corridors make Wheaton a center of hustle and bustle for Brazilian culture in our area. By bringing the festival to Marian Fryer Town Plaza, EducArte created a public gathering place close to the community that sustains this culture every day, while inviting the larger Montgomery County community to celebrate alongside us.
The afternoon featured joyful performances by Felipe Hostins Trio & Forró New York, Jo Silva, Batalá Washington, and Capoeira Mutamba, led by Mestre Javali. The festival also included a community Quadrilha, the traditional Festa Junina group dance, with everyone invited to participate. Called by Nati Pela, the Quadrilha transformed the plaza into a shared dance floor, welcoming children, families, longtime dancers, and first-time participants alike. Our Festa Julina reflected what makes these celebrations so special: Brazilian culture is not only something to watch, but also something to participate in and share.
We were equally grateful to the Brazilian food vendors, Brazilian and Latin American artists, and local small businesses that helped make the event feel like a genuine community gathering. Their food, art, products, and hospitality reflected the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the communities that make Wheaton so special.
We extend special thanks to Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando and Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González for joining us and offering meaningful remarks. Councilmember Jawando spoke powerfully about his family’s immigrant story and civic participation, while Council President Fani-González presented EducArte with a proclamation recognizing our work in bringing together and sharing Brazilian community, businesses, and culture in District 6 and Montgomery County.
Festa Julina Wheaton was made possible with support from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Government. We also thank our sponsor, Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center, for its generous donation of music equipment for the event.
To every performer, vendor, volunteer, partner, and attendee: muito obrigado. You made this a beautiful celebration of Brazilian culture, community pride, and the vibrant cultural life of Wheaton.
Photo and video credits: Jeremy Mines and Drone by Dro.