SP street carnival has blocks for crowds or families; see schedule

The capital of São Paulo may not have the horizon filled by the sea of ​​Salvador, Recife or Rio de Janeiro to give revelers breath during the several kilometers walked accompanying the blocks. But it makes up for it with the energy of the most active nightlife in the country and a list of more than 500 parades scheduled for the Carnival period, which starts on the next 11th and goes until Ash Wednesday, on the 22nd of February.

See, below, how to enjoy some of the various aspects of Carnival in the metropolis according to your preferences.

classics

Like every carnival city, São Paulo has some blocks that are considered classic and that attract crowds annually —good examples are the largest block in the city of São Paulo, the Acadêmicos do Baixo Augusta, which this year parades with Olodum and pays homage to Gal Costa, the Pipoca da Rainha, which closes the hangover from the party with Daniela Mercury, and Casa Comigo, known for its flirty atmosphere. For those who like slightly smaller, but still famous, blocks, Agora Vai and Pilantragi are style options.
Academics of Baixo Augusta – r. da Consolação, 2.101, Centro. Sun. (12), at 2 pm, Instagram @academicosdo Baixoaugusta

Now Go – Pça. Olavo Bilac, R. Barra Funda, 897, Barra Funda, central region. To have. (21), at 2 pm, Instagram @blocoagoravai

Home With Me – r. Henrique Schaumann, 567, Pinheiros, west region. Sat. (11), at 11 am, Instagram @blococasacomigo

Pilantragi – Av. Sta. Marina, Lapa, west region. Sat. (11), at 2 pm, Instagram @festivalpilantragi
Queen’s Popcorn – r. da Consolação, 2.101, Centro. Sun. (26th) at 2pm

Instruments

Those who are fond of blocks in a more classic format, with percussionists on the floor, acoustic instruments and processions mixed with the public, can look for blocks as intimate as a Carnival can be. This category includes Saia de Chita and Baco do Parangolé, in the western region, and Confraria do Pasmado and Charanga do França, which bring together more people than these first ones. Much more crowded and with an electric trio, but with 130 female instrumentalists, Pagu parades downtown with a repertoire made up of songs that became famous in female voices.
Baco do Parangolé – pça. Maria José Felipe, Lapa, west region. Sun. (12), at 11 am, Instagram @bacodoparangole

Cordão Carnavalesco Confraria do Amado – r. dos Pinheiros, 1.091, Pinheiros, west region. Sun. (12), at 11 am, Instagram @confrariadopasmado

The Spectacular Bloco da Charanga do França – r. Imaculada Conceição, 134, Santa Cecília, central region. Mon. (20), at 9 am, Instagram @charangadofranca

Pay – Av. Ipiranga, 719, Center. To have. (21), at 11 am. Instagram @blocopagu

Skirt of Chita – pça. Dr. Vicente Tramonte Garcia, Pompeia, west region. Sun. (19), at 9 am. Instagram @blocosaiadechita

LGBTQIA+

The party in São Paulo is also known for its various blocks, which are often carnivalesque arms of famous ballads that take place in the city. Good examples are Desculpa Tudo Coisa, a party aimed at lesbian and bisexual women, and Batekoo, dedicated to LGBTQIA+ black and peripheral youth, which take place periodically at night in São Paulo and attract a large number of revelers to the streets when February arrives. Singer Pabllo Vittar’s block, Agrada Gregos and Siga Bem Caminhoneira are other tips for the LGBTQIA+ public who want to enjoy the date among their own.
Please Greeks – av. Pedro Álvares Cabral (between the Obelisk and the Monument to the Flags), Vila Mariana, south region. Sat. (18), at 1 pm, Instagram @agradagregos

Carnakoo – Lgo. do Paissandu, Center. Sat. (11), at 12 pm, Instagram @batekoo

Bloco da Pabllo – av. Pedro Álvares Cabral (between the Obelisk and the Monument to the Flags), Vila Mariana, south region. Sun. (19) at 1pm

Sorry Anything – r. Augusta, 1300, Consolação. Sat. (11), at 12 pm, Instagram @desculpaqualquercoisa

Siga Bem Caminhoneira – pça. Marshal Deodoro, Center. Sat. (25), at 12 pm, Instagram @sigabemcaminhoneira

Brazilian music

The parades with artists on stage —or dedicated to their repertoires— tend to be some of the most popular in the city. Two of the biggest, Navio Pirata and Bicho Maluco Beleza, are imported — the first comes from Salvador under the command of the band BaianaSystem and the second brings a taste of Pernambuco, with Alceu Valença. Those dedicated to the MPB repertoire also stand out, such as Filhos de Gil, which honors Gilberto Gil, Explode Coração, which visits Maria Bethânia’s discography, and Tarado Ni Você, dedicated to Caetano Veloso, but which parades honoring Gal Costa in 2023.
Bicho Maluco Beleza – av. Pedro Álvares Cabral (between the Obelisk and the Monument to the Flags, Vila Mariana, south region. Sat. (11), at 1pm

Explode Heart – pça. da República, 292, Centro. Sun. (19), at 1 pm, Instagram @blocoexplodecoracao

Filhos de Gil – Av. Faria Lima, 4150, Pinheiros, west region. Mon. (20), at 11 am, Instagram @filhosdegil

Pirate Ship – av. Pedro Álvares Cabral (between the Obelisk and the Monument to the Flags), Vila Mariana, south region. Sat. (25), at 1 pm, Instagram @pirate ship

Tarado Ni Você – av. Ipiranga left with São João, Centro. Sat. (18), at 10 am, Instagram @blocotaradonivoce

Relatives

The little ones are not left out of the Carnival in São Paulo. Traditional groups such as Charanga do França and Urubó make children’s versions with adapted versions and songs and others, such as Berço Elétrico, Mamãe eu Quero and Fraldinha Molhada, were born and made for families to take their children.
Electric Crib – pça. Rosa Alves da Silva, Vila Mariana, south region. Sun. (19), at 10 am, Instagram @bercoeletrico

Charanguinha do França – r. Major Sertório, 573, Vila Buarque, central region. Sat. (25), at 10 am, Instagram @charangadofranca

Fraldinha Molhada – r. José Oscar de Abreu Sampaio, 310, Jd. Anália Franco, eastern region. Sun. (12), at 10 am and Sun. (26), at 9 am, Instagram @bloquinhofraldinhamolhada

Mom I Want – pça. Karmann Brothers, Perdizes, western region. Sat. (11), at 9 am, Instagram @blocomamaeeuquero

Little vulture – lgo. da Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Ó, 215, Parish of Ó, north region. Sat. (11), at 8 am. Instagram @urubozinho