KIRKWOOD • Just a week after moving to the St. Louis area from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Michael and Melissa Miranda spent Sunday afternoon celebrating the food and culture of their home country.
The Mirandas, of O’Fallon, Mo., were among a few hundred people attending Festa Junina at the Kirkwood Community Center after hearing about it from a college classmate of Michael’s already living here.
Some of the others on hand also hailed from Brazil originally — or were spouses or children of a Brazilian native.
David Hakanson, of Town and Country, was there with his wife, Brazilian native Luciene, and their three young children.
“We love the food and we love the culture,” Hakanson said. Moreover, he said, “It’s good to be around other Brazilians.”
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Brazilian square dancing, various games for children and food and drink booths were among the attractions. One booth featured desserts made by volunteers in Viva Brasil StL, the nonprofit group sponsoring the event.
Another sold various types of Brazilian tapioca dishes. Two more represented area Brazilian restaurants.
A DJ played Brazilian music, and Brazilian flags and cartoon characters were displayed on the walls of the recreation center gym where the event was held.
Larry and Sharon Nordlof said they came out of curiosity — partly because their son, who lives in Washington, D.C., is dating a Brazilian woman.
“I think it’s exciting to learn about new cultures,” Sharon Nordlof said. Her husband sampled a signature Brazilian cocktail called caipirinha.
Alex Giallonardo drove the 90 minutes to the event from his home in Salem, Ill., with his fiancée, Marina Louzada, a Brazilian native he met while the two attended Michigan State University.
Louzada, a member of Viva Brasil StL, said it’s important “to keep the culture alive” among people with Brazilian connections in the area.
Not everyone on hand had a Brazilian tie, however.
Julie Leacock, of Creve Coeur, said she was there because she’s been interested in learning about various countries since her family hosted exchange students from other nations when she was growing up.
“I really enjoy cultural events,” she said after buying an order of bolo de coco gallardo — Brazilian coconut cake — from a food booth.
Her 10-year-old daughter, Miriam, chose bolo de chocolate — chocolate cake.
Carolina Holtmeyer, a Brazilian native who has lived in the area about 20 years, is president of Viva Brasil StL.
She said the organization aims to share the Brazilian culture with the St. Louis area and emphasizes arts and education, such as sponsoring classes in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil. She said there are an estimated 4,000 people from Brazil in the St. Louis area.