Lusito Land Festival back with a bang

Lusito Land, one of Johannesburg’s oldest festivals, hopes that 2015 is a bumper year of fund raising for the Lusito School for the Physically and Mentally Challenged.

The 34-year-old festival has donated proceeds to the school from its inception in 1981 and has substantially grown and sustained the top facility that caters for differently abled individuals from across Johannesburg.

“It takes a substantial amount of funds to run a school such as the Lusito School and we are reliant on the revenue earned from the Lusito Land Festival to maintain, grow and sustain the facilities,” said Naomi Contente, spokesman for the Lusito Association,

The Lusito School, located in the south of Johannesburg, started as a small day care centre and has developed into a fully-fledged school. Today, the school has more than 70 learners.

Presently the school cares for individuals with cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury, Down’s Syndrome and other syndromes.

Lusito Land was originally a festival that celebrated the Portuguese tradition and culture. Over the last three decades, 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. The festival will have a host of artists performing, including Mi Casa, Rubber Duc, Bobby van Jaarsfeld and Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels.

The festival will run from April 24 to May 3.

Tickets are available at Computicket at a cost of R80 for adults and teens and R50 for children (6-12 years old) and pensioners. Children under the age of five gain free access.

Lusito Land is at Wemmer Pan, Pioneers Park, corner of 11th Street and Turf Road, La Rochelle.

The festival will be open from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays, 10am to 11pm on weekends and public holidays and 10am to 7pm on Sunday, May 3.