Carnival officially starts in February, but locals and tourists are already preparing to take over the city’s streets with confetti, costumes and lots of samba.
This Sunday (4), Rio de Janeiro begins the call Unofficial Carnivalwith more than 70 blocks spread across the Center and neighborhoods in the South and North zones, marking the symbolic opening of the pre-carnival season.
The concentration starts early: from 8 am, blocks stopped and with processions take over squares, historic streets and cultural spaces in the Center. Throughout the day, the program continues until the end of the afternoon, when the traditional Cordão do Boi Tolo leads the large collective procession, bringing together dozens of blocks on a route that starts in the Center and continues through Aterro do Flamengo, Botafogo and Copacabana.
For Luís Otávio Almeida, member of Boi Tolo and representative of Desliga dos Blocos, the term “unofficial” carries more resistance than a label.
“The definition of Unofficial Carnival only exists because, since 2009, there has been an attempt by the city hall to make carnival official. What we today call unofficial can just be called Carnival, as it was for more than two centuries in the city”, he states.
According to him, the decree that began to require prior bureaucracy so that a block could exist on the streets ended up creating an artificial division. “Regardless of the size or character of the block, it began to be required that it exist on paper six months in advance”, he recalls.
Unlike traditional leagues, the Desliga dos Blocos is defined as a movement.
“The Desliga is not a league. We do not organize the blocks. They participate in the Opening by free membership. The most we do is align the programming according to the intention of each collective”, explains Almeida.
The complete program can be accessed on Desliga’s social networks and on the blocks’ own pages. “Throughout the pre-carnival there will be events, rehearsals and parades. The best way is to follow the Instagram of the blocks and pages that promote the festivities”, he advises.
Incorporated into everyday life in Rio, street carnival moves the economy, boosts tourism and redefines urban dynamics. For Almeida, the role of public authorities should be to guarantee basic infrastructure, without interfering in the essence of the party.
“Carnival generates consistent income for the city. Public authorities’ actions must be discreet, ensuring safety, cleanliness and traffic, without interfering in the biggest popular festival on the planet”, he says. He also highlights the importance of the cultural occupation of the Center.
“With the departure of companies, it was essential that this historic ground welcome residents. We talked about this in manifestos and we started to see the first fruits.”
This year, the opening of the unofficial carnival also reserves space for children. Aberturinha, at Aterro do Flamengo, will have popular games, workshops and shows aimed at children.
Block schedule – Sunday (4)
Blocks stopped
- 8am – Love Songs Praça Marechal Âncora
- 9am – The Whole Warehouse Utopia Ball
- 9am – Non-Monogamy Praça Mauá
- 9am – NossoBloco Bar Kamikaze
- 10am – Marimbondo Does Not Respect Utopia Warehouse
- 10am – Girô Praça Paris Project
- 10am – 8&80 Bar Kamikaze
- 10am – Enxota Que Eu Va Casa Carnaval Rio
- 11am – Skabloco Armazém Utopia
- 11am – RodaBloco Bar Kamikaze
- 11am – Bloco dos Inconfidentes Casa Carnaval Rio
- 11am – Bargaça Percussion – Morro do Pinto
- 11am – Ringtones for Odudua Praça XV
- 12pm – Te Devoro Praça da Candelária
- 12pm – Marejada Casa Carnaval Rio
- 12pm – Calcinhas Bélicas Praça XV
- 1pm – Bloco da Insana Casa Carnaval Rio
- 2pm – Lambabloco Casa Carnaval Rio
- 3pm – The Bikinis of Ogodô invite The Sungas of Odara to Praça XV
- 5pm – Only Bloco Praça XV Plays
Blocks with procession
- 8am – Frida Pira Olímpica Block
- 8am – Papagoyaba Ferry Niterói–Rio
- 9am – Come Here My Flower Praça Marechal Âncora
- 10am – Gugu Pira Olímpica Bathtub
- 11am – Leôncio Arco do Teles’ Mustache
- 2pm – Deaf and Worlds Rua Dom Manuel
- 5pm – Great procession with Cordão do Boi Tolo Location to be confirmed
Opening – children’s programming
- 9am to 10:30am – Kidmi Brincante and stilt workshop
- 10:30 am to 11 am – Storytelling with Clown Claroca
- 11am to 12pm – Fanfarrinha Band
- Aterro do Flamengo – height of Belmonte
