The founder and president of BR Day New York, João de Matos, announced that BR Day the traditional Brazilian party that closes the streets of Manhattan to celebrate Brazil’s Independence, will not take place in 2023.
“Unfortunately, our annual meeting will be postponed once again”, announced De Matos. “As you know, we always bring the best of Brazil. But because BR Day is a free event, its production costs can be very expensive, which makes it very difficult to get sponsors. After the pandemic, it became even harder”, he pointed out the reason for the cancellation.
The last time BR Day NY took place was in 2019, when the event brought together more than 1.5 million people at Sixth Avenue and Little Brazil (46th Street). In 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the party was suspended. Since then, the organizers have been dealing with the pandemic consequences, above all, economic changes, which brought the highest inflation and interest rates of the last two decades to the United States.
“You can be sure that we will keep working non-stop until we get the necessary sponsors to throw the biggest party ever”, said De Matos.
BR Day NY was created in 1984 and since then 35 consecutive editions of the party have taken place on the first Sunday of September, the eve of the Labor Day holiday in the USA. At first, the party was restricted to 46th Street, the famous Little Brazil; but over the years, the public grew so much that the event had to be moved to Sixth Avenue.
Today, BR Day NY has an audience of more than 1.5 million people who spread annually across several blocks of Sixth Avenue and Little Brazil St. (W 46 St) to see and listen to Brazil’s greatest hits and taste the typical Brazilian cuisine.
It is worth mentioning however that the street fair on Sixth Avenue – with various typical products from Brazil – will take place. What has been postponed are the musical performances that take place on the stage normally set up on Sixth Avenue between 43rd and 42nd Streets. At Little Brazil, Brazilian restaurants will also keep their traditional special menus to celebrate the country’s Independence. Anyone wishing to participate in the fair by exhibiting their products should contact MARDI GRAS at 212-809-5200.