Celebrate Street Carnival in Rio with the Blocos
Credit: Flickr / Rodrigo Soldon Souza / CC BY-ND 2.0
The Rio Carnival is a spectacular event which draws in millions of spectators. This is your chance to take part in the lively celebrations, parades, watch participants in vibrant costumes make their way down the main street and if you’re up for it, samba dance competitions! If you wish to get a taste of authentic Rio experience, then you'd love to join one of the blocos (block street parties). Keep reading as we unfold the magic of bloco street parties during the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
Blocos are an informal band made up of groups of friends in a particular street, neighbourhood or bar. The street dancers and bands have a long history of performing during Carnival time, tracing their origins back to the 1800s during the creation of the Cordoes.
The blocos have gotten increasingly more popular over the past few decades. You can find the modern blocos run block parties around Rio as early as January and run through all the way to the Sunday after the Carnival. You’ll find these street parties all around the neighbourhoods of Copacabana, Leblon, Ipanema, Jardim Botânico, and Lagoa.
Blocos sing traditional Carnival songs, and they also develop their own theme song every year. Each bloco also includes classic samba songs to their repertoire. As you join a Bloco, you can find them with brass instruments, guitars, and more.
The major block parties in Rio draw in thousands of revellers. Some of the well-known blocos in Rio are Monobloco, Polka Dot Bloco and Armpit of the Christ. The Bloco das Poderosas is another street party that attracts many revellers. Remember to take out time and watch the grand parade at the Sambadrome and immerse yourself in a party mood.
An excellent way to find out where the best street party is going on is to ask a Carioca. As you indulge in the street parties, remember to be cautious and keep all your valuables at the hotel safe.
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