Lusito Land returns

LUSITO Land is one of Joburg’s biggest music festivals and it’s back to bring Portugal to our city of gold with its usual traditional food stalls and a party atmosphere.

Running until May 2 and hosted by the Lusito Association for the Mentally and Physically Challenged, the festival kicked off on Thursday, April 21 with its opening evening and welcomed the public at Wemmer Pan, Turf Road, La Rochelle.

According to the chairman of the Lusito Association, Sergio Aquino, Lusito Land first opened its doors in 1981 and over the last 35 years has evolved from a one-day event to an 11-day festival that welcomes over 100 000 people. “The planning for Lusito began 10 months ago and cost the school R5.5-million to put together. Last year was a great success and we are hoping to do better this year,” said Aquino.

Lusito has engaged with the government, various media houses, the police, endless sponsors and suppliers in order to get the event to where it needs to be.

With six restaurants, seven pubs and street cafés offering grilled peri-peri chicken, chourico, prego rolls, chicken livers, espetadas, giblets and seafood, including prawns and calamari, Lusito Land is the Lusito Association’s primary fundraiser. All proceeds from the festival go directly to the maintenance and building of the Lusito School.

“The school has a rainy-day fund which we plan on using to grow the school (now consisting of 73 learners). We plan on including boarding facilities for the school as well as moving the school and the festival to a more permanent location, which will save us the costs of setting up the infrastructure for Lusito Land annually,” said Aquino.

Braving the cold weather, those invited to the opening evening of Lusito Land were treated to a scrumptious dinner courtesy of Lusito Land.

Safe and secure parking is available at allocated parking areas. For further information about Lusito Land or the Lusito Association, visit its website www.lusitoland.co.za or call the hotline on 079 999 9444.