Pre-Carnival in Rio de Janeiro: Party with Spanta Neném
Updated on Jan.15, 2015
Love for street Carnival and love of place - Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas - are at the core of Spanta Neném ("Scare Baby"), one of the best blocos, or Carnival groups, in Rio de Janeiro.
All the bloco's events are in the pre-Carnival season. Spanta is known for its parade by the lagoon, always with excellent musicians and an easygoing atmosphere; its great pre- and post-parade parties; and its music and tutoring project for kids at Santa Marta, one of Rio's favelas.
The parades are well organized, with portable restrooms provided by Spanta Neném besides the ones provided by the Rio de Janeiro administration.
Spanta Neném is a non-profit organization and proceeds help maintain their music school at Santa Marta, which offers guitar, percussion and other music lessons as well as school tutoring to 100 favela children. Some of them participate in the group's percussion band during Carnival parades. The school also helps create jobs in the favela, since all instructors come from the Santa Marta community.
The bloco has a version for young kids: Spantinha (or "Little Spanta"), which hosts its own parties, packed with fun activities, and Carnival events.
Spanta Neném songwriters have created several signature Carnival songs and the group. In the 2012/2013 season, Spanta launched a new band: Chupeta Elétrica.
This year, the group's Carnival theme is Rio's 450th anniversary. The peak of celebrations will be January 31, with Maratona do Spanta, or the Spanta Marathon.
The day will start with the Spantinha parade at 9 a.m., followed by the (free) main parade at noon (both at Ciclovia da Lagoa, the Lagoon's cycling lane). Then, at 4 p.m., there will be the post-parade party at Sede de Remo do Flamengo (Av. Borges de Medeiros 997 - Lagoa)
Before all that, there will be O Samba Pede Passagem (Jan.24, 2015), a rehearsal party which, like the post-parade party on January 31, will be at Sede de Remo do Flamengo. Ticket prices for each party start at R$120.
Tickets are being sold at these Farm (www.farmrio.com.br) stores:
- Farm Ipanema: R. Visc. de Pirajá, 365, store c-d- 202, 203 e 204 - Ipanema - (21) 3813-3817
- Farm Rio Design Leblon: Av. Ataulfo de Paiva, 270, # 313/314 - Leblon - (21) 2540-0082
- Farm Rio Design Barra: Av. das américas, 7777. #125, 1st floor - Barra da Tijuca - (21) 3326-0631
- Farm Centro - Galeria Sul América: Rua da quitanda, 86 - # 102 - Centro - (21) 3852-7906
Watch Spanta's 2015 Summer Video
Learn more on the bloco's official website, www.spantanenem.com.br
Keep up with the latest on the group's Facebook page.
Love for street Carnival and love of place - Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas - are at the core of Spanta Neném ("Scare Baby"), one of the best blocos, or Carnival groups, in Rio de Janeiro.
All the bloco's events are in the pre-Carnival season. Spanta is known for its parade by the lagoon, always with excellent musicians and an easygoing atmosphere; its great pre- and post-parade parties; and its music and tutoring project for kids at Santa Marta, one of Rio's favelas.
The parades are well organized, with portable restrooms provided by Spanta Neném besides the ones provided by the Rio de Janeiro administration.
Spanta Neném is a non-profit organization and proceeds help maintain their music school at Santa Marta, which offers guitar, percussion and other music lessons as well as school tutoring to 100 favela children. Some of them participate in the group's percussion band during Carnival parades. The school also helps create jobs in the favela, since all instructors come from the Santa Marta community.
The bloco has a version for young kids: Spantinha (or "Little Spanta"), which hosts its own parties, packed with fun activities, and Carnival events.
Spanta Neném songwriters have created several signature Carnival songs and the group. In the 2012/2013 season, Spanta launched a new band: Chupeta Elétrica.
2015 Pre-Carnival Parade and Parties
This year, the group's Carnival theme is Rio's 450th anniversary. The peak of celebrations will be January 31, with Maratona do Spanta, or the Spanta Marathon.
The day will start with the Spantinha parade at 9 a.m., followed by the (free) main parade at noon (both at Ciclovia da Lagoa, the Lagoon's cycling lane). Then, at 4 p.m., there will be the post-parade party at Sede de Remo do Flamengo (Av. Borges de Medeiros 997 - Lagoa)
Before all that, there will be O Samba Pede Passagem (Jan.24, 2015), a rehearsal party which, like the post-parade party on January 31, will be at Sede de Remo do Flamengo. Ticket prices for each party start at R$120.
Tickets are being sold at these Farm (www.farmrio.com.br) stores:
- Farm Ipanema: R. Visc. de Pirajá, 365, store c-d- 202, 203 e 204 - Ipanema - (21) 3813-3817
- Farm Rio Design Leblon: Av. Ataulfo de Paiva, 270, # 313/314 - Leblon - (21) 2540-0082
- Farm Rio Design Barra: Av. das américas, 7777. #125, 1st floor - Barra da Tijuca - (21) 3326-0631
- Farm Centro - Galeria Sul América: Rua da quitanda, 86 - # 102 - Centro - (21) 3852-7906
Watch Spanta's 2015 Summer Video
Learn more on the bloco's official website, www.spantanenem.com.br
Keep up with the latest on the group's Facebook page.
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