What exactly are street blocks, or as we say in Brazil, "Blocos de Rua"? According to some definition found at the web: "The street carnival are structured in groups named: block, cordon, band or rancho. A Carnival Street Parade are created like this: a friend’s group, who lives together by some interest: neighbourhood, same wok place, leisure, etc.. had regular meetings to decide about the name, colors, and flag which were be used in the parade"

Another definition from the web: "The difference between a banda and a bloco is that in a banda the orchestra plays well-known Carnival hits, the marchinhas. These are songs that everybody can sing along, and some have been around since the Carmen Miranda days. Cordao da Bola Preta is a reference, around since 1918. Banda de Ipanema is the most traditional South Side banda in Rio. In a bloco there is a special theme song that they choose every year. There may be meetings where songs are presented, just like in a Samba School. These rehearsals create a sort of camaraderie and, of course, a great excuse to party! Monobloco is the largest bloco today with Simpatia coming a close second.. "



We decided to post the most famous and trendy street blocos of Rio de Janeiro 2008 Carnival. There are so may options you can´t say you couldn´t make it.


We included in this special list, the name of the "bloco" , the time its starts, the address, and its neighborhood.

The best thing: they are all free!

Check the list below and party until your energy is there!


1/31/2008 - Thursday January 31st


"Banda da Rua do Mercado" : at 5 pm- Rua do Mercado, in front of Stock Exchange Bolsa - Neighborhood - Centro -

2/1/2008 - Friday February 1st


"Eu sou eu e jacaré é bicho d’água": 4 pm - Rua Torres Homem com Visconde de Abaeté Neighborhood : Vila Isabel

"Carmelitas" : 5 pm - Rua Dias de Barros
Neighborhood : Santa Teresa

"Embaixadores da Folia": 5 pm - Av. Rio Branco and Rua São Bento,
(Neighborhood : Centro

: "Vem ni mim que eu sou Facinha" - 5 pm - R. Prudente de Moraes, 10
Neighborhood :Ipanema




"Rola Preguiçosa" 6 pm - Av. Epitácio Pessoa and Maria Quitéria
Neighborhood : Lagoa

"Rival sem Rival" 7 pm - Teatro Rival - Rival Theater -Centro

"Badalo de Santa Teresa" - 8 pm - Largo das Neighborhood: Santa Teresa

"Concentra mas não sai" - 8 pm - Rua Ipiranga Neighborhood : Laranjeiras

: "Azeitona sem caroço" - 8 pm - Bar Azeitona - Corner of Rua Dias Ferreira and Bartolomeu Mitre


: "Empurra que Pega" : 5 pm - rua Carlos Góis Neighborhood: Leblon


"Bloco do Bip Bip", midnight - Rua Almirante Gonçalves Neighborhood: Copacabana


2/2/2008 - Saturday - February 2nd


:"Embaixadores da Folia" : 5am - Av. Rio Branco and Rua São Bento, altura da Praça Mauá (
Neighborhood:Centro

Street Bloco Name : "Cordão da Bola Preta": 9 am - Municipal Theatre
Neighborhood: Centro

Street Bloco Name : "Céu na Terra": 9 am - Largo do Curvelo
Neighborhood:Santa Teresa

"Pega pra sambar" : 11 am - Rua do Senado, Neighborhood: Lapa


"Bloco do Caveira" : 2pm - Rua Marquês de Olinda Neighborhood: Botafogo

"Turma do Gato": 2pm - Bar do Gato, Rua Djalma Dutra Neighborhood:Pilares

"Dois prá lá, dois prá cá" : 2 pm - Rua Álvaro Ramos 11 Neighborhood: Botafogo

"Afroreggae" ; 3pm - Quadra Nahildo Ferreira (
Neighborhood: Vigário Geral

"Barbas" : 3 pm - R. Arnaldo Quintela com Assis Bueno Neighborhood: Botafogo



"Banda de Ipanema" : 3 pm - Praça Gal. Osório and Teixeira de Melo Ipanema

4 pm - Rua do Lavradio Neighborhood: Lapa

"Se não quer me dar… me empresta" : 4 pm - Rua do Lavradio, 90 Neighborhood: Lapa

"Empurra que pega" : 5 pm - Praça Cazuza - Neighborhood: leblon

"Laranjada Samba Club" : 5 pm - Praça do Chorinho, R. General Glicério
Neighborhood: Laranjeiras

: "Empolga às 9" : 5 pm, - Casa da Matriz, Rua Henrique N
Neighborhood: Botafogo

"O remédio é o samba" : 2 pm Copacabana Beach

"Banda da Bolívar" 2 pm - na Rua Bolivar Neighborhood: Copacabana

"Banda Santa Clara" : 4 pm Rua Santa Clara
Neighborhood:Copacabana



2/03/2008 - Sunday - February 3rd

"Banda de Ipanema" - Banho de Mar à Fantasia do Arpoador até o Posto 9 from 10 am to 4 pm

"Cordão do Boitatá" 8 am - Rua do Mercado and Praça XV :Center

Street Bloco Name : "Bar Paz e Amor" R. Garcia D’Ávila conrner with Nascimento Silva
Neighborhood: Ipanema

"Simpatia é Quase Amor", 4 pm - Praça General Osório Neighborhood: Ipanema

"Cachorro Cansado" : 4pm - Bar Planalto, Rua Barão do Flamengo, 35 Neighborhood: Flamengo

"Cacique de Ramos" - 9 pm - Av. Rio Branco corner with Presidente Vargas Neighborhood: Centro

"Empolga às 9" - 9 PM - Posto 9 - Neighborhood: Ipanema



2/04/2008 - Monday - February 4th


: "Songoro Cosongo" : 11 AM - Curvelo Neighborhood: Santa Teresa

"Sobrinhos do Tio Bio" - 12 AM, Rua Domingos Ferreira Neighborhood: Copacabana

"Pede Passagem" - 1 AM - Santos Dumont Square - Jockey Club Neighborhood: Gávea


"Bloco de Segunda" : 2PM- Cobal do Humaitá, Botafogo

"Volta, Alice" : 3 PM - Tasca do Edgar, corner with rua Alice c/ Mario Portela Neighborhood: Laranjeiras

"Cacique de Ramos" : 8 PM - Av. Rio Branco with Presidente Vargas - Neighborhood: Centro


2/05/2008 - Brazil Fat Tuesday - February 5th


: "Se Melhorar, Afunda" : 9 AM - Praça São Domingos
Neighborhood: São Domingos - Niterói

: "Rio Maracatu" 3 PM - Arpoador
Neighborhood: Ipanema


"Banda de Ipanema" : 3 pm - Praça Gal. Osório com R. Teixeira de Melo - Neighborhood:Ipanema

"Bloco da Ansiedade " : 4 PM - Mercadinho São José Neighborhood:Laranjeiras

"Cachorro Cansado" : 4 PM - Bar Planalto, Rua Barão do Flamengo, 35 Neighborhood: Flamengo

"Largo do Machado, mas não Largo do Copo" : 4 pm - Largo do Machado Neighborhood: Flamengo
: "Vem ni mim que eu sou Facinha" : 5 pm - R. Prudente de Moraes, Neighborhood: Ipanema

"Carmelitas" : 6 PM - Largo dos Guimarães
Neighborhood: Santa Teresa


2/07/2008 - Thursday - February 7th


"Voltar pra quê ? " : 8 pm - Rua Álvaro Alvim, Cinelândia. At the famous “Beco da Cirrose”
Neighborhood: Center



2/08/2008 - Friday - February 8th


: "Só Tamborins" : 9 PM - Travessa Mosqueria, corner with Mem de Sá
Neighborhood Lapa


2/09/2008 - Saturday - February 9th

: "Bafafá" : 5 PM - Posto 9 neighborhood: Ipanema

"Mulheres de Chico" : 5 pm - Praça Antero de Quental - Neighborhood: Leblon


2/10/2008 - Sunday - February 10th


"Monobloco" : 9 AM - Hotel Sofitel, Posto 6, Av. Atlântica
Neighborhood: Copacabana


"Barangal" : 4 pm - Posto 9 Neighborhood: Ipanema

Maybe I´ll see you around!



This is a non-commercial blog devoted to wonders of Rio de Janeiro, with a focus in Brazilian Carnival. Our sole objective is to describe how Carnival in Brazil is magically created, its artists, dancers and musicians that make up the world’s largest show. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.