Brazilica begins

Today sees the start of Brazilica, the authentic Rio-style Brazilian samba carnival in Liverpool city centre promising to be "the most exciting, exotic and vibrant spectacle of 2011". MADEUP is assured the last few sequins and feathers are being stitched onto hundreds of costumes, the finishing touches are being made to the floats, and organisers are itching to transform Williamson Square into an authentic Brazilian town square, ready for the ultimate free fiesta to begin. Today (Friday July 15) will see the festival kick off with events across the city. The Carnival Queen will be crowned in a competition at Bem Brasil, The Rebel Soul and Misturado Carnival Ball will rock LEAF on Bold St and Alma de Cuba will celebrate the start of the festival with its nighttime petal drop. There will also be a serious side to the programme with the Big City Sleep at the Bluecoat, a sponsored sleep out challenge to help raise awareness and funding for the work of Action for Brazil's Children.  Saturday (July 16) will see Williamson Square turned into a Brazilian piazza for a completely free day of fun for all the family. The main event, the carnival parade will bring together 500 samba dancers, drummers and floats from 14 samba schools from the UK and Brazil. The parade begins at Abercrombie Square at 8.30pm and takes in Hope St, Hardman St, Leece St, Bold St and Church St, ending at the main stage in the square, where the party will continue until 10.30pm, with afterparty at Nation. Finally, on Sunday (July 17) there will be the Brazilica Zumbathon® at Chavasse Park from 2pm to 5pm, raising funds for The Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton and Liverpool Carnival Company. There will be more fringe music events at Ropewalks Square and Santa Chupitos, Parr Street that evening. Roger Morris, festival producer at Liverpool Carnival Company said: "Since we started in 2008, the Liverpool Carnival has continued to grow and we’re looking forward to our biggest year ever. It’s so exciting to think that we now have Britain’s biggest Brazilian carnival on our hands. The festival is going to be immense and I hope that the people of Liverpool will come along and join in." Download the full Brazilica programme at www.brazilicafestival.com.