Lusito Land 5.8

Lusito Land brings you the same rich cultural experience at its new home in Cayman Rd, Johannesburg South

One of Joburg’s biggest authentic cultural food and music events, the Lusito Land Festival going onto its 37th year of the widely-loved Portuguese extravaganza.

The estimated 80,000 attendees of the event will be exposed to the unique Portuguese heritage, a scrumptious feast of taste-tantalising cuisine from fine restaurants, serving traditional Portuguese cuisine filled with flavour. Patrons can also look forward to original music by their favourite local talent, Portuguese traditional folk dancing and community artists.

The easy-to-access venue is a superb, safe and central location with loads of secure parking, clean facilities and a family friendly environment with a fun fair to keep the ‘crianças’ busy. Lusito Land is the ultimate six-day cultural experience for the entire family with enjoyment for all ages.

Besides celebrating Portuguese pride, the festival serves a greater purpose. Every year the profits made from the festival go to the Lusito Association, which manages the Lusito School for the physically and mentally handicapped. The school works with 80 learners who need special care. The cost of caring for special-needs children and adults is beyond the ability of many families, and with funds raised from the Lusito Land festivals parents need only pay a R1,700 a month while the school subsidises the remainder of the R5, 500 monthly school fee.

“Lusito Land was created in 1981 and has continued to take place every year specifically to raise funds for the school. Without the money generated from the festival, these children and would have no hope for an education,” explains Noemia Contente, spokesperson from the Lusito Association for the Physically and Mentally Handicapped.

“We are passionate about our community and the people who reside in it, that is why the decision was made to change the venue for the event. We’ve purchased the land, as part of a long-term investment plan, such as developing one section of the acquired land for the festival and to look at building a private school on the premises as well as an old age home and sports academy to further subsidise Lusito Association for the physically and mentally handicapped.” explains Contente.

For many regular visitors to Lusito Land, the move from its traditional home in Wemmer Pan at Pioneer Park in the south of Johannesburg, will come with a heavy heart as many people have fond memories of this iconic location. However, Contente believes the move is in the best interest of the learners who rely on the much-needed funds. “We felt that a new, upmarket venue would offer improved dynamics for a mass festival of this nature. We intend to make the new Lusito Land the top cultural event of the calendar for Joburg,” continues Contente.

Lusito Land has long been a crowd-pleaser, having been voted on several occasions as ‘Best Festival’ by Leisure Options Magazine readers. This year, the festival format will be tailored to the new site ensuring that visitors will still enjoy the full Portuguese experience available at Lusito Land that so many have come to love and expect.

The Lusito Association
The Lusito Association started the first Lusito School under the auspices of the Mental Health Society of the Witwatersrand and has subsequently grown with the school. Its mission is to support the Lusito School in equipping each learner as best as possible for their passage through life.

The Lusito School
The Lusito School, located in the south of Johannesburg, started off as a small day care centre and has developed into a fully-fledged school for the differently abled. Today, the school has more than 80 learners. This school no longer offers its vital service solely to the Portuguese community, but supports differently abled people from all cultures and backgrounds. The school has now been divided into two sections, the stimulation centre and the workshop.

Lusito Land
Lusito Land first opened its doors in 1981 as a festival that celebrated the Portuguese tradition and culture. Over the last 36 years, it has evolved into a festival celebrated by the many cultures that make up Johannesburg and Gauteng. The Portuguese tradition has however been sustained in the wonderful traditional flavours of the fine cuisine that is an important facet in the Portuguese heritage.