Street Carnival – blocos

The block heats up every Carnival season when packs of merrymakers take to the streets in jumbled revelry, singing samba standards, banging on drums and pots and pans, blasting rock music from mobile sound systems and traipsing around in impromptu fancy dress and face paint.

These boisterous bunches – blocos – started as the precursors to the giant escolas de samba (samba schools) as we know them, and continue to pull in partiers not attracted to the flash-and-glam of the escolas, the glitzy production values at the Sambódromo, or the pretension of the upscale Carnival balls held at private clubs and hotels. In fact, unlike the more officially organised escolas, almost anyone can turn up to a bloco even after it’s started and add a bit of personalised Carnival flair.

Where, when – and which?

You can find blocos all over town and on every day of Carnival, which runs from 17-21 February. For the funkiest, freshest bloco in town, the Acadêmicos do Baixo Augusta (follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/blocoaugusta) rock Bela Vista with their sunglass-wearing skull logo and hype atmosphere, having exploded in popularity since being formed two years ago by Rua Augusta nightspot Studio SP

One of the most traditional – and irreverent – of the city’s blocos is Vai Quem Qué (pt-br.facebook.com/vaiquemquer), which meets up in Praça Benedito Calixto before bandying about the streets of Pinheiros and Vila Madalena.

For an interesting, culturally focused Carnival experience, Ilú Obá De Min (pt-br.facebook.com/pages/Ilú-Obá-De-Min) is an all-woman bloco embracing African and Afro-Brazilian elements. Parading through Santa Cecília and Centro to rhythmic drums and traditional chants, Ilú Obá runs educational workshops and presentations year-round.
 

Full bloco schedule
 

Saturday 11

Pholia na Luz
A gaggle of more than 8 blocos will head out sporadically from Centro’s Estação da Luz, from 1pm, and again at the same time the following day.

Sunday 12

Acadêmicos do Baixo Augusta
One of the funkiest, freshest blocos in town, the Acadêmicos get into gear outside Sonique – Rua Bela Cintra 461, Consolação – at 4pm.

Monday 13

Banda Redonda
One of the oldest blocos kicks off its Carnival celebrations at 9pm on Rua Theodoro Baima with Rua da Consolação.

Wednesday 15

Banda do Candinho
The 31-year-old bloco hits the Bela Vista streets at 9pm, leaving from the corner of Rua Santo Antonio and Rua 13 de Maio.

Thursday 16

Umes Cara Pintada
This Bixiga-based bloco leaves Rua Rui Barbosa 323 at 7pm.

Friday 17

Ilú Obá De Min
This all-woman bloco, known for embracig African and Afro-Brazilian culture, heads out from Viaduto Major Quedinho, República, at 9pm.

Banda do Trem Elétrico
This lively bloco, formed originally by the city’s Metrô employees, leaves from the corner of Rua Augusta and Rua Luiz Coelho, Consolação, at 9pm.

Vai Quem Qué
This traditional – and irreverent – bloco gets under way at 10pm at Praça Benedito Calixto before heading out around the streets of Pinheiros.

Saturday 18

Vai Quem Qué
Leaves Praça Benedito Calixto, Pinheiros, at 10pm. See Friday 17.

Sunday 19

Vai Quem Qué
Leaves from Praça Benedito Calixto, Pinheiros, at 10pm. See Friday 17.

Monday 20

Vai Quem Qué
Leaves from Praça Benedito Calixto, Pinheiros, at 10pm. See Friday 17.

Tuesday 21

Vai Quem Qué
Leaves from Praça Benedito Calixto, Pinheiros, at 10pm. See Friday 17.

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