Grounded in Freedom: Vamos Aquilombar 2026
About this Event
Grounded in Freedom: Vamos Aquilombar 2026 is a three-day gathering, with community and connection at the heart of our celebration. This event will take place from July 24 to 26 at Ayeko Farm in Enumclaw, WA, and will feature a series of workshops that explore the principles of land stewardship, the movements of Capoeira Angola, Samba, and Bhangra; skills shares in herbal medicine, Qi Gong, and sourdough bread making, kids' activities, and the communal joy of sharing meals made with fresh ingredients from the land.
Our workshops are designed not just to share knowledge but are hands-on experiences that encourage participation, learning, and the exchange of ideas. They aim to inspire us to deepen our connections to ourselves and each other, the land, and our cultural practices. We are honored to have the presence of master teaching artists who come to share their skills, insights and joy with us as we explore the connections between the land and the cultural arts as tools of liberation, nourishment, and healing.
As we celebrate and learn together, we will also inspire ourselves with the memory of many who came before us who struggled for freedom and not only believed another world was possible, but actively, and in the most precarious times, built this other world. “Vamos Aquilombar!" Quilombos, also known as Maroons in the US, are free societies built by Africans who escaped enslavement, along with Native Brazilians and Europeans looking for a life outside of colonialism. Key elements of Quilombos are self-governance, collectivism, land stewardship, growing food, martial arts and self-protection, spiritual practice, and music. Grounded in Freedom honors this history and aims to bring us into memory and continued practice today. This year, we will continue deepending our practice to aquilombar, and focus especially on honoring those who dedicate their lives to share knowledge with community as a way to strengthen all of us.
Friday
🕑: 12:00 PM
Check-in begins
Info: Come as early as 12pm to check in and setup camp.
🕑: 05:00 PM
Beginner Capoeira Angola and Cumbia classes
Info: Learn some basic movements of Capoeira Angola and get comfortable to jump in the opening roda or learn Cumbia basics.
🕑: 06:00 PM
Opening Roda
Info: All are welcome to participate.
🕑: 07:00 PM
Dinner
Info: Continuing our tradition of local salmon. Vegan options available.
🕑: 08:00 PM
Moon Jamz
Info: Priya and Thalay bring their monthly jam to Grounded in Freedom. See this link for details! https://www.plazaartistastudio.org/moon-jamz
Saturday
🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Breakfast
Info: deliciousness
🕑: 09:00 AM
Morning Circle
🕑: 09:30 AM
All Hands-on Land Stewardship
Info: A big part of connecting to land is caring for it. Join us as we give love to the land and to the site where we will be together for the weekend. Learn through doing. Guided by Larisa Jacobson of NEFOC and the land stewards of Ayeko Farm.
🕑: 12:00 PM
Lunch
Info: Plate up and get ready to sit and eat while listening to the panel and discussion.
🕑: 12:30 PM
Panel and Small Group Discussions
Info: We will hear from each of our esteemed guests and teaching artists about their own story, how they got on their path, and their thoughts about the connections between the land and the cultural arts. Then, we will break into small groups to get a chance to hear from one another.
🕑: 03:00 PM
Cultural Arts Session 1
Info: Capoeira Angola for Beginners, Samba, and Bhangra.
🕑: 04:30 PM
Cultural Arts Session 2
Info: Intermediate/Advanced Capoeira Angola, Samba, and Bhangra.
🕑: 06:30 PM
Dinner and Party
Sunday
🕑: 08:00 AM
Breakfast
🕑: 09:00 AM
Workshops
Info: Options for Sourdough Bread Making, Herbal Medicine, Qi Gong, Land Stewardship.
🕑: 11:30 AM
Closing Roda
🕑: 01:30 PM
Lunch, Clean up, Depart
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 241.94
