Rio Carnival Blocos and free street parades

The Rio carnival blocos are street parades, and they can be found all over Rio during Carnaval. Over 400 blocos have already registered for carnaval 2010, and there will probably be many more parading 'unofficially' during carnaval weekend.

Rio bloco parades are free and anyone can join them. If you can, turn up early and buy a bloco T Shirt, but its not required. You can wear fancy dress or just casual clothes; its all very informal.

Where to find Rio Blocos and street parades

 Throughout the five days of carnival there are always a lot of blocos parading near the beaches in the main tourist districts of Copacabana and Ipenima. If you are staying in a hotel here, there will probably be one passing your front door.

The Rio Branco, in the centre of Rio, has a continuous stream of blocos parading from about 7pm to the following morning, on both Sunday and Monday nights. Metro Uruguayana

As well as this there are various stages and concentrations of free carnival events all over the centre and South of the city, but especially in Lapa.

And for a very small fee you can go to the Terrerao de Samba, a huge enclosed area just outside the Sambodromo itself, containing a big sound stage and many food stalls. Many of Brazil's top music acts will be performing throughout carnaval. Metro Central. (these are not blocos)

A list of Blocos parading in Rio Carnival 2009

Here is a list of some of the better known street blocos parading in Rio in carnaval 2009. There will be hundreds more, with concentrations of blocos in Copacabana, Ipenema, Lapa, and the Rio Branco. This will be updated for carnaval 2010 once the information becomes available.

BLOCO DO BARBAS

(Bloco of the Beards)
21st Feb. Rua Arnaldo Quintela s/nº, Botafogo. From 15h.

BLOCO RIVAL SEM RIVAL

 (Bloco rival without rival)
20th Feb, Rua Álvaro Alvim 33, Cinelândia. From 18h.

CACHORRO CANSADO

(Tired dog)
22 and 24th Feb. Meeting at: Rua Barão do Flamengo 35, Flamengo. From 16h.

CACIQUE DE RAMOS

(Indian Chief of Ramos)
22, 23 and 24th Feb, From 20h. Avenida Rio Branco, esquina com Presidente Vargas, Centro.

CONCENTRA MAS NÃO SAI

(we meet but we don’t set out)
20th Feb. Rua Ipiranga s/nº, Laranjeiras. From 20h.

CORDÃO DA BOLA PRETA

(cordao of the black ball – wear black and white)
21st Feb, Meeting at na Praça Floriano (Cinelândia), From 8h.

CORDÃO DO BOITATÁ

22nd Feb, Meeting at na Rua do Mercado, Praça XV. From 8h.

CLUBE DO SAMBA

(samba club)
24th Feb. Meeting at: Avenida Atlântica / Rua Santa Clara, Copacabana. From 14h.

EMBAIXADORES DA FOLIA

 (Ambassadors of Folly)
21st Feb, Avenida Rio Branco corner with Rua São Bento, Praça Mauá, From 5h.

24th Feb, Avenida Rio Branco corner with Rua da Alfândega, Centro, From 19h.

EMPOLGA AS 9

21st Feb in Botafogo, Meeting at Casa da Matriz (Rua Henrique de Novais 107), From 16h.

EU SOU EU JACARÉ É BICHO D'ÁGUA

(I am alligator and beast of the water)
20th Feb. Rua Visconde de Abaeté, corner with Rua Torres Homem, Vila Isabel. From 16h.

MEU BEM, VOLTO JÁ!

(Good grief, I'm already back?)
24th Feb. Meeting at: Avenida Princesa Isabel / Rua Barata Ribeiro, Leme. From 16h.

PEGA PRA SAMBAR

21st Feb. Meeting at: Rua Gomes Freire, / Rua do Senado, Centro. From 11h.

QUE MERDA É ESSA?

(What shit is this?)
22nd Feb, Rua Garcia D"Ávila / Rua Nascimento Silva, Ipanema. From 14h.

SE ME DER, EU COMO!

(If you give it to me, I’ll eat it)
24th Feb, Rua do Matoso on the corner with Rua Dr. Satamini, Tijuca. From 16h.

SE NÃO QUER ME DAR... ME EMPRESTA

(If you don’t want to give – I’ll take)
21st Feb. Meeting at: Rua do Lavradio 90, Centro. From 16h.

SIMPATIA É QUASE AMOR

(sympathy and almost love)
22nd Feb. Meeting at: Praça General Osório, Ipanema. From 16h.