Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival celebrations kicked off in style as furry friends took center stage at one of the city’s most beloved canine street parties.
Dozens of dogs, dressed as mermaids, superheroes, butterflies, and clowns, paraded alongside their owners in a paw-sitively delightful event.
Dubbed the Blocão, a clever play on words combining “bloco” (Carnival street parties) and “cão” (dog in Portuguese), the event gathered over 200 people in Rio’s beachside Barra de Tijuca neighborhood on a sunny Saturday morning. Adorned in tulle and sequins, these fashionable pups competed for the title of best costume.
In a leafy square, dogs of all shapes and sizes strutted their stuff, wagging their tails with pride. Contestants were introduced over a microphone, accompanied by a confetti shower that added an extra touch of excitement.
Alana the chihuahua made a splash as a glittery mermaid, Trinde the cocker spaniel rocked a cape-wearing Hermione ensemble, and Bidu the Shih-tzu soared as a furry Superman. Scooby Doo, a massive pit monster, stole the show as a lion with an unruly golden mane.
Paçoca, a 2-year-old dachshund with a whopping 100,000 followers on Instagram, turned heads as a hot dog, complete with bun, ketchup, and mustard toppings.
“He’s an influencer,” proudly stated his owner Helena Ribeiro, 32, donning a red shirt with a Heinz ketchup label. According to Ribeiro, Paçoca’s costume perfectly suited his breed.
Rodrigo Pirola and Cecilia Myrele, both 39, embraced the Flintstones theme, dressing as Fred and Wilma while their 4-year-old basset hound Amora donned an orange dress inspired by Pebbles Flintstone.
“Amora is our daughter; we’re a family. We go everywhere together,”
shared Myrele.
Carolina Eduardo, 27, transformed her 13-year-old sand-colored mutt Rebeca into a charming Snow White, complete with a glossy dark wig as the “cherry on top” of the ensemble.
In a nod to the city’s iconic ice tea hawkers found on its beaches, Charlotte, a 3-year-old border collie mix, donned an orange outfit and carried two miniature tin kegs on her back.
“I love Carnival, I love parties,”
exclaimed her owner, Veronica Beck, 47, as fellow dog lovers snapped pictures of Charlotte.
Despite scorching temperatures, the pups and their owners braved the heat to participate in the bloco.
Organizers provided water and goodie bags filled with treats, ensuring the canine participants stayed hydrated and cool in the shade.
“This year, the heat is challenging for us,”
remarked organizer Marco Antonio Veira, affectionately known as “Toto.”
He expressed concerns about the hot asphalt and its potential to harm delicate paws.
Following the costume competition, the bloco weaved its way through the square, with dog lovers and their furry companions swaying and shimmying to the rhythm of Brazilian pop classics.
Twin sisters Daniely and Flavia Mendes, both 43, enthusiastically joined the celebrations, singing along with the crowd. They have been attending the bloco for nearly a decade and this year brought their identical Shih-tzus, one dressed as Superman and the other in a vibrant, handmade clown costume.
“For us, dog parents, this event is all about having fun and bringing our community together,”
shared Daniely Mendes.