Sargento Pimenta mixes Beatles and Brazilian rhythms at Carnival

The revelry started early in the streets of Rio of Januaryin this second-Friday (20) of Carnival. In the city center, the Bloco que Pena Amor started to animate revelers from 7 am. The big highlight of the day was the traditional Bloco do Sargento Pimenta, which was expected to draw more than 80,000 people, in the Flamengo neighborhood.

Sargento Pimenta is a must for any Beatles fan. The block’s repertoire consists mainly of versions of songs by the British band, interpreted with arrangements of samba, march, maracatu and other Brazilian rhythms. “For me it is the best block. I’ve been coming here for a long time. In the pandemic, I really missed it”, said psychologist Noemi Lopes.

Other highlights of today they are the Bloco das Divas, in Barra; the Corre Atrás Block, in Leblon; and the Exaggerated and National Dinosaur Blocks, in the Centre. But the fun is not just for the elderly. It has plenty of room for the family.

The children’s block Largo do Machadinho, but not Largo do Suquinho animated the little revelers, in Largo do Machado, in the south zone. Tour guide Ronaldo Mendes took his 1 year and 4 month old son to enjoy the party. “This carnival is being great. We have some options for children’s blocks here in the region. As we already had a carnival culture, of going to the blocks, now with a small child, we adapted [para ir em blocos infantis]”.

Child version of the block “Largo do Machado, but not Largo do Copo” has the artist Ziraldo as godfather. He is responsible for designing the banner and for the costumes for the master of ceremonies, who is dressed as Menino Maluquinho.

The fun of young revelers was guaranteed with games, a costume contest and distribution of confetti and serpentine kits.