By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Carnival might be officially over, but post-Carnival celebrations are just about to get started: from this Friday, February 16th, to Sunday, February 18th, Rio’s streets will host 52 blocos.
Also happening this Saturday, February 17th, will be the “Champions Parade”, in which the six best samba schools from Grupo Especial star at the Sapucaí again.
Traditionally, Rio’s “unofficial” Carnival opens before February but this year it was on January 7th. Likewise, even though Carnival is officially over on Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday), one can easily find an eventful Carnival agenda in Rio until late February.
According to media outlet G1, Rio’s streets expect to attract 657,000 people on this post-Carnival weekend. Opening this Friday’s line-up will be bloco “Só Tamborins”, a tamborine-only band that parades on Travessa Mosquera, in Lapa, at 8PM.
On Saturday, February 17th, “Bloco das Poderosas”, led by funk singer Anitta, is among the most expected. Taking place at Avenida Presidente Antonio Carlos, in Centro, from 7AM, the bloco promises to please funk and Anitta’s fans with a lively set list of funk and pop music.
Those into traditional samba music should check “Vaca Atolada dos Embaixadores da Folia”, bloco composed of musicians from the “roda de samba” of Vaca Atolada bar, which will parade at Avenida Gomes Freire, 533, in Centro at 2PM. In Santa Teresa, two blocos hope to attract residents and visitors to the neighborhood, they are “Chulé de Santa”, at Largo do Curvelo, at 10AM; and “Mistura de Santa”, at Mirante do rato Molhado, at 5PM.
In Zona Sul, MPB fans will love “Mulheres de Chico”, bloco entirely dedicated to Chico Buarque’s compositions, in Leme, at 3PM. For those who have never seen the iconic Banda de Ipanema, one of the oldest Carnival blocos in Zona Sul, will have another chance this Saturday, when it departs from Praça General Osório, in Ipanema, at 3PM. For a more chilled out bloco experience, one can go to “Se Essa Rua Fosse Minha”, at Praça Sandro Moreira, in Flamengo, at 10AM.
On Sunday, February 18th, “Monobloco”, one of the Cariocas’ favorites, will absolutely thrill the audience with its vibrant interpretations for traditional MPB and samba songs at Aterro do Flamengo, starting from 6AM. In Jardim Botânico, bloco “Fofoqueiros de Plantão” will play classic samba enredos, among other genres, at Rua Jardim Botânico, from 10AM. Parading at Avenida Atlântica, in Copacabana, will be bloco “Broxadão a Hora é Essa” at 2PM.
Also those interested in watching the samba schools’ parade live still have a chance this Saturday, February 17th, when the six best schools in Carnival 2018 (Beija-Flor, Paraíso do Tuiuti, Salgueiro, Portela, Mangueira and Mocidade) enter at the Sapucaí again. The parade starts from 9PM, and the tickets can be purchased at the Sapucaí or through Rio Carnival’s website.