Public fills the Fervo da Lud in the Center of Rio with funk and samba in carnival climate

Folios were present in several blocks of the city: Vagalume The Green and Samba Club were some of the options.

The Wonderful City boiled on Tuesday (17) of Carnaval with numerous options of blocks for all tastes and ages. Lud's Fervo megablock, led by Ludmilla, gathered about 600,000 revelers at the Gil Black Circuit in the Center early.

From funk to pop, without forgetting carnival hits and samba, the singer stirred a crowd from the top of the trio. The climate was of joy, diversity and fancy costumes.

In front of her block, she celebrated another anniversary of the project that has already become tradition in the carnival calendar of the city at a party marked by collective energy.

This year, the theme chosen was “Ritmos do Brasil”, a tribute to the sound plurality that forms the cultural identity of the country. Throughout the editions, the block has passed through references such as rap, funk, reggae, axé and, this time, dedicated the day to samba — a genre directly linked to the history of the Carnaval carioca. “Nothing better than representing the samba of Rio de Janeiro,” said the artist during the event’s press conference.

In reflecting on the dimension that her block reached, the singer stressed the symbolic and social importance of the project. Inspired and encouraged by Preta Gil, to whom he was keen to pay homage once again, Ludmilla sees the Carnaval as the realization of a dream and also as a space for generating work, income and visibility. “I’m a woman who came from the community and today being able to see what my career has become is wonderful,” she said, thrilled, highlighting the impact of the event on her team and the city.

By warning the “sea of people” from the top of the trio, Lud said what the feeling was at the time. “It’s always of gratitude, of a dream realized, of having so many people who trust my work, who enjoy my work, who wake up so early for us to enjoy together. It's always the dream come true, to be pulling the electric trio here. I am in my city, I am home, playing at home is always wonderful”, celebrated.

During the procession, Ludmilla paid homage to Black singer Gil, one of Lud's biggest Fervo promoters, and sang "Fire Bells" and the audience performed chorus.

The parade also dialed with the current moment of his career. The singer highlighted the recent release of the track “Bota”, music that carries a strongly Brazilian aesthetic. According to her, the song emerged as a surprise within the latest project and reinforces this connection with the country, especially in a year marked by major sporting and symbolic events.

Known for transiting between styles naturally, she stressed that this mix of rhythms is part of her personal history. Created in a family musical environment, she grew up listening to different genres and recognizes herself as part of this diversity. “Brazilian is this”, he summarized, when talking about belonging and cultural identity.

Ludmilla analyzed her own past with affection and good humor. In imagining what his younger version would think of all this, he responded without hesitation: “I would be proud. A trajectory built with music, work and a genuine relationship with the public — especially in the streets of the Carnaval of Rio ", completed.

Vagalume The Green presents itself with the proposal of environmental awareness

While the Center boiled with funk, other neighborhoods offered alternatives for different leaf profiles. The project Planting Carnaval, which transforms parades into instruments to combat climate change, social inclusion and territorial strengthening, took shape in the procession of the Bloc Vagalume O Verde, on Rua Jardim Botânico, in an area of historical, cultural and environmental relevance of the city.

The parade also assumed a symbolic character, with the presence of Queen Black Leticia in front of the drums of Master Yago, formed by 120 batuqueiros and musicians from the workshops of the block itself. After the procession, a 13-member band conducted the electric trio until closure, with repertoire that brought together classics of the Carnaval and popular hits.

“ I started pointing out girls to be queens, then I participated as a highlight and muse. In time, they invited me to be queen and I accepted. I do everything for love and count on a team that takes care of everything with me, because nobody does anything alone ", said Queen Black Leticia.

Vagalume o Verde's drum master, Iago Simões, highlighted the sustainable character of the parade. “The block has a different proposal, focused on environmental awareness, and the battery also develops social projects, such as planting seedlings, going beyond the carnaval”, he said.

About the battery godmother, the master emphasized the importance of her presence in the group. “She is a fantastic person, irreverent, very cheerful and has already become an icon here of the block, bringing even more energy to the battery”, she completed.

The president of Vagalume o Verde, Hugo Camarate, highlighted that the parade reinforces the environmental agenda and the identity of the territory of the Jardim Botânico. “We once again take the green to the street, valuing the community and expanding the project Planting the Carnaval, which brings together large blocks to strengthen the role of waste pickers, measure the carbon footprint and promote environmental compensation with seedlings of the Atlantic Forest, in partnership with the National Park of the Tijuca and the Jardim Botânico of Rio de Janeiro, without leaving aside the musical quality and the climate of celebration of the block ", he said.

Performed with blocks of Liga Amigos do Zé Pereira, the project expands its collective performance and proposes a structured model of compensation for greenhouse gas emissions generated by parades. The initiative combines the work of recycling cooperatives — promoting income generation and adequate disposal of waste — with the planting of native seedlings in certified environmental compensation processes.

Club of the Samba eternalizes memory of João Nogueira

In its forty-sixth destile the traditional block Clube do Samba has a more than special reason to celebrate: its founder, Sambista João Nogueira, would turn 85 this year. Diogo Nogueira, the artist's son, commanded the block and talked about his father's legacy.

“I want to pay tribute to my father who would be turning 85 and left this block that has already paraded for 46 years taking samba, bringing joy to everyone,” he said.

Very emotional, the widow of the artist, Angela Nogueira, highlighted the importance of the block for samba as a Brazilian cultural heritage. “This block is the symbol of John Nogueira. It has been celebrated since his departure, since 2001, that we celebrate João Nogueira and this dream of creating the Club of Samba, of doing all this and we continue. Everything we do is on him! It's for love... for samba! And for everything he thought of building in order to propagate samba. Having this block paraded for so many years is a way to celebrate the victory of samba, our Brazilian popular language bigger than samba ", said.

The foliage Joana Maria Gonçalves parade at the Samba Club for over 20 years. “I met João Nogueira as a child because my family is from samba. I think it's nice that Diogo took his father's place. He has perpetuated John's legacy, the samba culture. And I think this carnaval culture started with Rio de Janeiro, mostly. If the Carnaval is what it is today thanks to Rio and figures like João Nogueira”, he said.

Joana believes that when you celebrate specific dates, you are perpetuating this legacy. “All other states make Carnaval, but samba is Rio de Janeiro. And I think this is very important, I think this should be more publicized ", completed.

The full schedule runs until February 22nd and can be checked in the Blocs of Rio 2026 app and on the official website https://www.carnavalderua.rio/ ensuring that all the revelries know where and when the revelry will take place.