There has never been as much talk about
street Carnival in Brazil as in recent years. In addition to Rio de Janeiro and Salvador — cities that traditionally welcome revelers — São Paulo has emerged as one of the main (some say the main!) Carnival destinations in the country. This is thanks to the success and growth of the affectionately called "bloquinhos" — which were once a hit on the streets of São Paulo. "Before,
Carnival was the people's party. I imagine that this was lost due to the cultural elitism that occurred during the 1960s and 70s, but thankfully, it has once again reflected the joy and plurality of the people in recent years," says Walter Pereira Jr., founder of
inCanto Urbano , a real estate agency specializing in Paraíso that will sponsor the Cascavel bloco, a traditional street party in the neighborhood, this year. Despite being called by the diminutive name, many blocks have become mega-blocks, drawing crowds through streets and avenues, which has required the government to organize infrastructure specifically designed to support revelers and ensure the functioning of a city that is not usually so friendly to its citizens. To give you an idea of the scale of the event, in 2024, São Paulo will host approximately
579 blocks in various regions of the city, and attract around
15 million people , according to data released by the city government. During these festive days, instead of traffic jams, there are people moving through the streets. And so the feeling grows that the city continues to be a place for everyone. According to Caroline Martins, director of the diversity and inclusion group at
AsBEA-SP (Brazilian Association of Architecture Offices), the strengthening of the street carnival in São Paulo in recent years is linked to the appreciation of culture, the promotion of inclusion and the celebration of diversity. "The traditional festival, totally rooted in
Brazilian cultural identity , serves as a link that connects people of all origins," she says. Social media also plays an important role in the visibility of São Paulo's carnival, attracting both traditional revelers and new participants. "In this way, the celebration not only preserves tradition, but also stands out as an inclusive and diverse stage, exalting culture and celebrating the richness of diversity in the
city ," explains Caroline.
Public space for all
According to Octavio Pondetura, co-owner of the real estate agency
Refúgios Urbanos and an expert in Higienópolis and the surrounding region, there is indeed a desire to be on the streets. "When the city offers this possibility, it is immediately responded to positively. And Carnival demonstrates the city's capacity to absorb this demand for open public spaces," he says.
(Governo do Estado de São Paulo/CASACOR)
Caroline points out that any popular demonstration — as long as it complies with the law — is legitimate as a validation of
public spaces . "Carnival is a popular celebration that is deeply rooted in our culture, and seeing this celebration take place in a democratic and open space is very beautiful. Much better than parties in closed clubs or sambadromes," she emphasizes. At the same time, the director explains that São Paulo is not a generous city in terms of public spaces, which in many neighborhoods are limited to narrow streets and sidewalks. "Therefore, the resurgence of street carnival can boost people's perception of the
importance of the quantity and quality of these areas." For architect and urban planner Celso Rayol, managing partner of
Cité Arquitetura in Rio de Janeiro, it is during Carnival that the streets and avenues gain color and life. "Spontaneous carnival blocks appear in
unusual places , outside the traditional, and this says a lot about this discovery and appropriation of public spaces, revealing the way young people see the city. In Rio, for example, the festivities are concentrated in the center, which is the commercial area of the city and is very quiet on weekends and holidays," he explains. On the other hand, it is necessary to reinforce the collective awareness among citizens. "Some people do not understand that the fact that a space is public does not mean that it can be used as one pleases and, especially, without care. Throwing trash on the street, leaving a mess after a party is something that still reflects this lack of awareness about public spaces that do need to be taken care of and used, but always with care," says Walter.
There is no denying the power that Carnival has on people taking to the streets, but it is important to ensure that this return is not temporary and influences this
feeling throughout the year . To this end, public policies are needed to ensure everyone's well-being, such as security, regulation of street commerce and implementation of
infrastructure , such as portable toilets and first aid stations. "And, of course, the creation and maintenance of spaces that accommodate not only the festivities, but also the daily demands of citizens," says Caroline. Furthermore, Octavio advocates the
decentralization of this occupation, which usually occurs in more centralized neighborhoods — in São Paulo, in the region of Avenida Paulista and in the city's historic center. "There are other leisure streets, occasionally, in other places, but they are still few. So I understand that it is very important to open channels in the neighborhoods where these demands can be heard by the sub-prefectures and associations to have a way to request and include these public spaces open at certain times of the week," he says. Investment in
urban, cultural, social and economic recovery plans for public spaces is another point that Celso considers as a legacy that Carnival should leave. He cites the Reviver Centro project in Rio de Janeiro as an example. "Carnival attracts the population to these gray, sparsely occupied areas, which gain a new meaning. City governments can, and should, take advantage of the scenario to attract new residents through these incentive programs, taking advantage of existing buildings and unused land."
Public transport is essential
Public transportation plays a crucial role in reclaiming the streets during Carnival and other events throughout the year, especially for residents of the city's outlying areas. "In addition to providing accessible, efficient, and inclusive transportation for revelers from all neighborhoods, public transportation promotes
cultural integration by bringing people together," says Caroline. During Carnival, the importance of transportation is not limited to revelers, but also to other everyday users. Therefore, city governments need to ensure efficient buses, subways, and trains for fluid and inclusive mobility, benefiting the entire urban community. Walter also points out that the better the transportation, the more people use it and the more spaces for socializing we can create with the
reduction in vehicle traffic . "Here in Paraíso, a partnership between Itaú and SESC has just closed a section of Rua Leôncio de Carvalho and we will soon have an incredible boulevard here," he reveals.
(Governo do Estado de São Paulo/CASACOR)
And who doesn't like carnival?
In a city as large and diverse as São Paulo, it is a challenge to organize a street carnival without impacting those who decide to participate or not. And
planning is the key word. "There is a functional issue, such as the issue of the circulation of people, ambulances, police, etc. And there is a more subjective issue, which has to do with who wants to participate in the party and who doesn't. The way to address both is through event planning by the city government, which needs to understand where and how people will gather, where they come from, where they are going, where they will make noise, and what the infrastructure and services necessary for this are like," explains Caroline. In addition, it is essential to structure good
communication with society so that everyone can feel comfortable during carnival, regardless of how they decide to spend the holiday. Another solution is to distribute the blocks throughout the city so as not to impede the movement of people in the central region. "I think we have improved a lot by placing the mega blocks in larger areas and the smaller blocks spread out across different regions of the city," says Walter. He also emphasizes that organizing traffic, thinking about special routes for ambulances and other emergency vehicles, is essential.
