Festa Junina

We're heading into the sweatiest part of the year, but countries south of the equator are preparing for winter. In Brazil, this seasonal change is marked by the Festa Junina, a celebration of rural life. Families gather to perform the quadrilha, which is a square dance accompanied by Brazilian country music, and everybody dresses up in the stereotypical garb of rural Brazilians (red-checked dresses and shirts, pigtails for the women, straw hats and painted-on freckles are the hallmarks). Viva Brazil invites you to get in on the action at its Festa Junina from noon to 4:30 p.m. today at the Kirkwood Community Center (111 South Geyer Road, Kirkwood; www.vivabrasilstl.org). There will be folk music and dancing, traditional Brazilian food and drinks, and carnival games. Tickets are $5 or $15 for a family of up to five members.