Carnival is still two weeks away, but open rehearsals by street blocks are already taking over São Paulo. There will be at least 14 free blocks today (4) and 15 blocks tomorrow (5) spread throughout the city. The official pre-carnival will be on the weekend of February 11th and 12th and, according to the city hall, 511 blocks will liven up the revelers in São Paulo during the period.
One of the blocks rehearsing this Saturday is Ilu Oba of Min. Founded in 2004, the association explores the cultural and rhythmic diversity of Brazilian music coming from the legacy of African and Afro-Brazilian matrices. The open rehearsal will take place from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art of the University of São Paulo (USP), in Ibirapuera.
Next Sunday (5), the Scholars from Baixo Augusta, considered the largest carnival block in the city of São Paulo, will also have an open rehearsal to the public. In 2020, with the theme Viva a Resistência, more than 1 million people went to Rua da Consolação and accompanied the tribute to singer Elza Soares. The open rehearsal for Acadêmicos do Baixo Augusta will start at 2 pm at Galpão do Armazém do Campo, at Alameda Eduardo Prado, 460, in the Campos Elíseos neighborhood.
Numbers
The municipal government estimates that, in 2023, more people will take to the streets to enjoy Carnival, surpassing the 15 million revelers in 2020. In addition, the idea is that the carnival blocks will be held in neighborhoods on the outskirts, with 68 blocks in the area east, 101 in the south zone and 76 in the north zone.
At the end of last year, the Municipal Secretariat of Culture launched a BRL 3 million notice to support 300 blocks. The megablocks, which have the capacity to bring together more than 40,000 people, should parade in six parts of the city: Rua da Consolação (central region); on Rua Luís Dumont Villares (south zone); in Ibirapuera Park (south zone); on Avenida Faria Lima (west zone); on Avenida Marquês de São Vicente (north zone) and Rua Laguna (south zone).
The São Paulo Military Police will reinforce policing and security, in addition to ambulances and hospital beds to guarantee medical attention and assistance to the public.
other blocks
In other parts of the city there will also be open rehearsals. Check the schedule:
Saturday (04/02)
- Block Lavô, it’s new!, at 1 pm – Rua Juramento, 202
- Band C. Macaco Cansado, at 3 pm – Beco do Batman
- Afro KIzomba, at 3 pm – Bar da Zilda
- Só Toca Bloco, at 3 pm – Pedra do Leme
- Orfãos do Brizola Block, at 4 pm – Rua do Teatro, 39
- Black Silver, at 5 pm – Avenida Mirandela
- Jah É Block, at 5pm – Casa de Cultura da Freguesia do Ó
- Northern Nights, at 5pm – Ginga Kiosk – Leme
- Carmelitas Block, at 6 pm – Praça Tiradentes – Downtown
- Dura Realidade Block, at 3 pm – Rua Orestes, 28
- Rocha da Gávea, at 2 pm – Pedra do Sal
- Abalô-caxi, at 1 pm – Rua Juramento, 202
- Block of Jatoná – Rua Álvaro de Mendonça, 456
Sunday (06/02)
- Broco da Burocra, at 11am – Praça Olavo Bilac
- Samby & Junior Block, at 12:00 – Rua Conselheiro Lafaiette, 93
- Sons of Neptune, at 2 pm – Kaô Beach Point
- Chorume Units, at 2 pm – Rua Bicudo Cortez, 17
- Small People, at 3 pm – Avenida Professor Alfonso Bovero, 522
- Bloco da Ursal, at 3 pm – Rua Brigadeiro Galvão, 469
- Fanfarrinha Band, at 4pm -Aterro do Flamengo – Marionettes Theater
- Desbundas Artes, at 6pm – Bandstand – Largo 21 de Abril
- Sururu da Lama, at 6 pm – Barzart
- Capivareta Repercussiva, at 6:40 pm – City Park
- Bloco da Ema, at 3pm – Rua do Porto – Casarão do Turismo
- Bloco Urubó, at 12h – Casa de Cultura Salvador Ligabue – Parish of Ó
- Ambulante Symphony, at 9 am – Horto do Barreto
- Block of Jatobá – Casa de Cultura São Rafael
The Instagram profile Which block do I go to? keeps a platform with list of blocks who will parade through the city. You can also apply filters according to date and time.
*Intern under the supervision of Camila Maciel
