By Michela DellaMonica, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — The Cidade Maravilhosa is in high energy today with the bulk of the authorized blocos happening today. The highlight event is the Cordão da Bola Preta, which will take place on Avenida Rio Branco in Centro at 9AM and will commemorate 96 years of parading.
According to RioTur, Rio’s tourism board, Bola Preta is expected to attract over 1.5 million revelers. This year’s theme is “Peace, Love and Revelry, all for a Thousand Wonders of Rio.” Famous singer Neguinho from Beija-Flor will perform with a band of thirty-four musicians and also sing “Happy Birthday” to Rio which will be mark 449 years today.
To help make today’s multitude of blocos easier to digest, find and plan for, here is a list by location and time:
Centro
Céu na Terra
Time: 8AM
Location: Largo dos Guimarães, Santa Teresa
Multibloco
Time: 9AM
Location: Av. Henrique Valadares, 17, Lapa
Maravilhas do Porto
Time: 12PM
Location: Largo São Francisco da Prainha, Saúde
Pega Pra Sambar
Time: 2PM
Location: Rua do Lavradio, at the corner of Rua do Senado, Lapa
Cordão do Prata Preta
Time: 4PM
Location: Praça da Harmonia, Saúde
Carioca da Gema
Time: 5PM
Location: Rua do Lavradio, between Riachuelo and Mém de Sá, Lapa
EXALTA REI!
Time: 5PM
Location: Rua Araújo Porto Alegre and the corner of Av. Graça Aranha (MEC)
Zona Sul
Dois Pra Lá, Dois Pra Cá
Time: 10AM
Location: Rua Álvaro Ramos, and the corner of Rua General Góes Monteiro, Botafogo
Escangalha!
Time: 11AM
Location: R. Orsina da Fonseca, Gávea
Bloco da Favorita
Time: 11AM
Location: Avenida Prefeito Mendes de Moraes and the corner of Rua Herbert Moses, São Conrado
ULALÁ BALANCÊ
Time: 3PM
Location: Avenida Atlântica, Posto 6, Copacabana
FOGO NA CUECA
Time: 3PM
Location: Rua Maestro Francisco Braga, Copacabana
Bloco do Barbas
Time: 4PM
Location: Rua Assis Bueno and the corner of Arnaldo Quintela, Botafogo
BAMBAS DO CATETE
Time: 5PM
Location: Praça Fernando Pessoa, Catete
O REMÉDIO É O SAMBA
Time: 5PM
Location: Avenida Atlântica, in front of Xavier da Silveira, Copacabana
TOCO-XONA
Time: 5PM
Location: Praça Jóia Valansi, Botafogo
BANDA DE IPANEMA
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Rua jangadeiros / Rua Gomes Carneiro, Ipanema
Banda da Sá Ferreira
Time: 6PM
Location: Rua Sá Ferreira and the corner of Av. Atlântica, Copacabana
Zona Norte
É Pra quem Pop
Time: 1PM
Location: Praça Lamartine Babo, Tijuca
Banda de Madureira
Time: 4PM
Location: Travessa Almerinda Freitas, Madureira
Diversão Brasileira
Time: 4PM
Location: Praça Comandante Xavier de Brito, Tijuca
Blacksambá
Time: 5PM
Location: Praça Professor Francisco Dáuria, Grajaú
Cordão Alegria da Tijuca
Time: 6PM
Location: Rua Afonso Pena, Tijuca
Mulheres de Zeca
Time: 6PM
Location: Parque Madureira, Madureira
Banda Cruzeiro do Sul
Time: 6PM
Location: Rua Torres Sobrinho, Méier
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