Caetano Veloso and Zeca Pagodinho to Play at Rio's 450th Birthday Bash

02/11/2015 - 09h18

The official program for the celebrations to mark 450 years since the founding of Rio de Janeiro was announced on Tuesday (10).

Celebrations will continue until March 1, the city's official birthday. "Rio will have an extended Carnival," said Mayor Eduardo Paes (PMDB).

On Saturday February 28, there will be a free concert at Quinta da Boa Vista, a city park that was once the site of the royal palace.

Just some of the artists confirmed so far are Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben Jor and Zeca Pagodinho.

The set will consist of songs that relate in some way to Rio, such as Tom Jobim's "Samba do Avião", which will be sung by Vanessa da Matta, and "Rio 40 graus", which will be sung by Fernanda Abreu, who also wrote the song.

At the end of the concert there will be fireworks to mark the first moments of the city's birthday.

On Sunday March 1, cultural centers in the city will have events free of charge or with half price discounts available for Rio residents who are able to present their identity card or some other proof of residence.

The official celebrations on March 1 start at 7am at the Forte de São João, in Urca. Cardinal Archbishop Dom Orani João Tempesta will then hold a special mass at the Santuário Arquidiocesano de São Sebastião.

After an official event at the Rua da Carioca, in the city center, the mayor will inaugurate the Rio450 tunnel, which links the Rua Primeiro de Março, parallel to the I Distrito Naval, to the Rua Antônio Lage, near the Moinho Fluminense.

That evening, famous samba schools such as Portela and Império Serrano will appear at a show in the Parque Madureira, in the north of the city, while there will be a concert at Praça das Juras in Bangu, in the west, where pagode and funk bands will play.

The complete program for the celebrations throughout this year is available at rio450anos.com.br.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	João Alvarez/UOL
	Just some of the artists confirmed so far are Caetano Veloso (picture), Jorge Ben Jor and Zeca Pagodinho