Rio’s Unofficial Carnival Season Opens as Dozens of Street Blocos Fill the Centro Despite Rain

Overview

• Roughly 70 autonomous blocos began the non-official opening on Sunday morning, concentrated largely in downtown Rio.
• Rain from early morning did not halt festivities, with reporters describing hundreds gathered at blocos such as Love Songs.
• A children’s program, Aberturinha, started at 9 a.m. at the Aterro do Flamengo with games, stilt workshops and storytelling.
• The traditional cortejo led by Boi Tolo is scheduled for 5 p.m., with the precise route to be posted by the bloc’s and organizers’ social accounts.
• Desliga dos Blocos reiterates it is a movement, not a league, criticizing municipal rules that require blocos to pre-register months in advance.