The festival returns to the streets of Liverpool on Saturday 6 August
Liverpool will come alive with a dazzling array of music, dance and colour this summer as Britain’s biggest Brazilian-style carnival returns on Saturday 6 August.
Organisers are expecting a big turnout for the street parade - read on for our top tips of where to catch the carnival.
The highlight of Brazilica Festival is the spectacular street carnival which winds its way through the city centre streets on Saturday evening, with plenty of photo opportunities (and bars and pubs) on the route.
Performers taking part in this year’s Brazilica carnival include Liverpool Samba School, Batala Mersey, Katumba (Liverpool), Wirral Samba Drummers, Paraiso School of Samba (London), Karamba Samba (Chester), Manchester School of Samba, Sambafriq (Chorley), Worldwise Samba Drummers (Preston), Samba Espirito (Lancaster) and Beatndrum (Belfast).
The parade starts at 7.30pm at Abercromby Square (next to The Cambridge pub) and will then pass down Oxford Street, past the Metropolitan Cathedral and down Hope Street to The Phil. From there, the carnival moves down Hardman Street, Leece Street, past the front of St Luke's Church, Bold Street and then Church Street, finishing in Williamson Square.
The Brazilica after-party will take place at District in the Baltic Triangle, showcasing some of the amazing performers from UK samba bands as well as Brazilica DJs playing house, samba and all things Latin. The event runs from 10pm - 3am and tickets priced £6 are available now from Skiddle.
Brazilica is the UK’s largest celebration of Brazilian culture. The event first began in 2008 when Liverpool was awarded European Capital of Culture. A Rio-style carnival parade was organised to honour the title and it was such a success that it became a regular feature in the cultural calendar. In previous years the event was held in July, but organisers have gone back to the more traditional date of the first Saturday in August.
As Brazilica Festival returns for the first time since 2019, organisers are expecting a big turnout for the street parade. Read on for our top tips of where to catch the carnival:
The Cambridge
Excitement is in the air at the start of of the carnival as the performers gather to enjoy a drink of capeta and put the finishing touches to costumes, make-up and drums. Grab a table outside The Cambridge and soak up the atmosphere.
Metropolitan Cathedral
The "money shot", as they say. As the groups drum past Liverpool's spectacular Metropolitan Cathedral, this is the place to get some amazing photos in front of this iconic building. If you can bag a spot on the balcony of The Everyman on Hope Street, then even better. We'd also recommend a drink at Liverpool Arts Bar, The Casa or 23 Hope Street.
The Philharmonic Hall
The corner of Hope Street and Hardman Street is where most of the crowds will start to gather as the sound of drums brings people out onto the streets. A table outside The Florist on Hardman Street, or Metrocola on Leece Street, will be the envy of everyone.
St Luke's (The Bombed Out Church)
Another very popular spot but worth standing your ground on the steps of St Luke's to get a great vantage point of the carnival as it turns down Bold Street. Jimmy's on the opposite corner will have an incredible view from its upstairs bar and they serve some pretty kicking cocktails too.
Bold Street
If you want to be in the middle of all the action - and we mean, literally, in the middle - then Bold Street is your place. Lined with bars and restaurants, if you manage to get an outside spec here then you're going to be within sniffing distance of the musicians and dancers. Mmmm. Book ahead and enjoy a front row (and possibly slightly sweaty) seat for the party.
Brazilica carnival is Saturday 6 August, starting at 7.30pm from Abercromby Square. Tickets for the afterparty at District cost £6 and are on sale now from Skiddle. For all the latest updates follow Brazilica on social media: Twitter: @BrazilicaFest | Facebook: brazilicafestival | Instagram: @brazilicafest
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