West Hartford Resident Organizes 'Carnaval' for Local Brazilian Community

West Hartford resident Mariana Sgarbi and her friend Luciana Wiksten hosted a local ‘Carnaval’ Sunday at the Ipanema Cafe in Hartford.

By Ronni Newton

Mariana Sgarbi, a West Hartford resident originally from Rio de Janeiro, and her friend Luciana Wiksten, a native of João Pessoa, Brazil, have been missing Carnaval. 

The biggest party in Brazil, Sgarbi said, begins on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday and ends as the season of Lent begins. People take to the streets in a celebration of life, partying day and night for several days.

“We have a great group of Brazilian friends in the Hartford area. Brazilians of all ages, some with some kids, some who don’t even have children yet, others who are already empty nesters,” Sgarbi said. She and Wiksten decided to bring Carnaval to the local community and organized a party at Ipanema Cafe, a family-owned Brazilian restaurant on Park Street in Hartford.

About 60 people attended Sunday, and enjoyed Brazilian food as well as music, dancing, games, and crafts.

“For some, the party was their first time experiencing Brazil’s largest cultural celebration. Little kids born in America from Brazilian parents were able to have a hands-on experience last night, playing nonstop with ‘confeti’ and ‘serpetina,’ [small pieces and strips of colored paper] at the same time learning new words in Portuguese, while their parents relived their childhoods back in Brazil,” Sgarbi said.

Costumes are a large part of Carnaval, and Sgarbi said she dressed up as a warrior “with an original costume from the Rio Carnaval parade two years ago in the School of Samba Mangueira.” Two other original costumes from Carnaval parades in Brazil were on display. Guests also dressed up, and costumes included Frida Kahlo, a Nordstrom bag, a Starbucks barista, a cow, soccer players, a beer glass, and lots of little princess, she said.

The Carnaval party was a great success, and fun for all ages. “I believe that exposing children and adults to other cultures broadens perspectives, promotes diversity, and, at the same time, brings people together and fosters friendships,” Sgarbi said. 

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