Rio’s ‘Non‑Official’ Carnival Opens With 70 Street Blocs Despite Rain

Overview

• Crowds gathered across downtown and along the Aterro do Flamengo as the Desliga dos Blocos collective launched the pre‑carnival tradition that dates to 2009.
• A children’s Aberturinha program began at 9 a.m. at the Aterro with popular games, a stilt workshop, storytelling and a performance by Banda Fanfarrinha.
• The lineup mixed stationary sets and roaming cortejos, with groups such as Love Songs keeping festivities going under a viaduct through morning showers.
• Organizers slated a late‑day collective cortejo led by Cordão do Boi Tolo at 5 p.m., with the meeting point and route to be confirmed via @desligadosblocos.
• Desliga representatives stressed the movement’s autonomy from formal leagues, criticizing municipal bureaucracy while urging basic support for safety, cleaning and traffic.