The carnival programming in São Paulo is extensive, with samba school parades at Anhembi and hundreds of blocks rocking the streets. But it’s not the only option. There is also cultural programming for those who don’t want to stay at home during carnival, but wish to stay away from the party. One of the programs will be aimed at cinephiles who want to spend Sunday (2) rooting for the film “I’m Still Here” at the Oscars. To rally support for the film – which was nominated for Best International Film, Best Film, and Best Actress [Fernanda Torres] – some cinemas in the capital, such as Belas Artes and Reserva Cultural, are opting for a special program to watch the Oscar ceremony, scheduled to start at 9 pm [Brasília time].
Also on Sunday, the Araçá Cemetery will host a guided tour as part of the Araçá and Its Voices project, in homage to the memory of activist Eunice Paiva, who was portrayed in the film “I’m Still Here” and is buried at this site. Deceased on December 13, 2018, Eunice Paiva was the wife of Deputy Rubens Paiva, a politician who was assassinated by state agents during the military dictatorship. The guided tour will take place at 10 am.
For those who prefer a visit to museums, the Football Museum will operate normally on Saturday, Sunday, and Ash Wednesday. On Tuesday, the museum will host a special and free program, called Carnival Super Tuesday. On this day, the museum will have a special program, with free admission and extended hours. The program includes flag-making workshops, a drum performance by the Santa Amélia team, a visit to the temporary exhibition “Voices of the Field”. The museum will be closed on Monday.
The Museum of the Portuguese Language will also operate normally during carnival, except for Monday when it closes for maintenance. Visitors to the museum will be able to visit the main exhibition, highlighting the diversity of the Portuguese language spoken in Brazil and other parts of the world. There is also the temporary exhibition “Lives in Cordel”. For Sunday, the museum has prepared a special program with games and activities, as well as reading mediation.
The Itaú Cultural will be open on Saturday and Sunday, but closed on Monday and Tuesday during carnival. On the days it is open, the public can visit the “Leda Maria Martins Occupation” exhibition, a temporary exhibition about the poet and intellectual, located on the ground floor. The permanent exhibitions will also be open. All programs at Itaú Cultural are free.
The Moreira Salles Institute (IMS), also on Paulista Avenue, will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, closing on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday (5), it will resume normal programming, but starting at 12 pm. Among the temporary exhibits at IMS is the “Zanele Muholi: Brave Beauty” exhibit, which features over 100 photographs focusing on the South African LGBTQIAPN+ community.
The Museum of Image and Sound (MIS), which recently inaugurated a temporary exhibit on artist Ney Matogrosso and another on the Jovem Guarda, will be open every day, except for Monday.
The Ipiranga Museum, on the other hand, will be open throughout carnival, from February 28 to March 4. It will be closed on Wednesday (5). One of the exhibits at the site is “Where There’s Smoke”, featuring works that highlight the process of environmental and social degradation over time.
Parks will also have a special program for those who want to spend carnival days in touch with nature. In Parque da Juventude, for example, there will be carnival mask painting workshops from February 28 to March 3 in the Environmental Education Room. At Parque Ecológico do Tietê, a series of activities focused on environmental education will be offered during the festive days, such as making eco-friendly confetti and a workshop on making musical instruments from recycled materials. At Parque Guarapiranga, there will be leaf confetti workshops on Saturday (1) and even a puppet theater with the park’s samba-enredo, which will take place on Tuesday starting at 2 pm.
