Christmas tree opens in Enseada de Botafogo today; See closed streets and how to get there

• Christmas Tree at Botafogo Cove: The exhibition is expected to receive 650,000 visitors, according to organizers’ estimates
• After five years: The Lake Tree will feature lighting inspired by the works of Van Gogh and his interaction with Christ the Redeemer; See details

This Sunday’s program starts early, at 5 p.m. Those arriving for the party will see the Brazilian Navy Choir at 5:30pm and DJ Tami at 6pm. The Coca-Cola Caravan will take place at 6:30 p.m. At 7pm, it’s the Christmas Orchestra’s turn to take to the stage with distinguished guests: Brittino da Serenha, Bello and Rachel Luz. The peak of the night – the official lighting of the tree – is scheduled for 8pm, with closing scheduled for midnight.

• 4 pm: Two lanes of Av. Nações Unidas (towards the centre) is closed between Fogo de Chão steakhouse and Praça Nicaragua.
• 5 pm: Total blocking of Botafogo Cove lanes in both directions.
• 6 pm: Aterro do Flamengo has not reopened. The entertainment area will remain exceptionally closed until the end of the event and the audience is completely exhausted.

CET-Rio recommends that the public prefer public transportation and avoid driving around the event area. Moreover, pedestrians should only cross from designated places and follow the instructions of traffic officers. Check out the main transportation runs below:

• subway: It will work normally. The recommendation is for the public to get on and off at Botafogo Station, via Access C – São Clemente (Praia).
• Train: It will operate normally, with weekend operations.
• Express transportation: It will operate normally, with weekend operations.
• VLT Carioca: It will operate normally, with weekend operations.

How to get to Botafogo Bay

On the 30th and on weekends, the public will be able to reach Botafogo Enseada through two access points. Crossings will be exclusively through pedestrian crossings that lead directly to underground tunnels, ensuring a greater degree of safety and organization for visitors to the shows.

The two main accesses will be:

• Tunnel 1 – At the beginning of Rua São Clemente, near the subway exit.
• Tunnel 2 – At the top of the Argentina Building in Praia de Botafogo near No. 228.

The stage will be installed between these two entrances in the center of Enseada. The Food Village will operate near the tunnels on opening day, and on the following weekends, it will be centered in the Tunnel 1 area.

Since the area is large-scale and there will be no direct street crossing for safety reasons, the entire traffic flow will be directed through underground tunnels.

On the opening day, the Municipal Guard of Rio (GM-Rio) organized a special operational scheme to ensure security and urban planning. The operation will involve a crew of 92 agents, supported by 25 vehicles, who will patrol the entire Botafogo Bay area.

Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with the public expected to arrive. The teams will remain on alert during all performances and tree lighting, and the work will not end until the crowds have completely dispersed in the early hours of the morning.

The Rio de Janeiro State Military Police (PMERJ) has also prepared a special security plan for the 30th. In total, 133 military police officers will work in the area, strategically distributed. The reinforcement includes foot police work, stationing vehicles at strategic points, and conducting preventive patrols on the roads leading to Botafogo Bay.

Teams will be mobilized before, during and after the scheduled activities, with the aim of increasing visitors’ feelings of safety. Police work will also be strengthened during the event through specialized units.

Enhancing surveillance with cameras and drones

To enhance mobility monitoring and surveillance on the opening day, the Operations and Resilience Center of Rio City Hall (COR-Rio) will begin receiving images from 33 new cameras installed on Avenida das Nações Unidas and other roads close to the event. With the new equipment, the district will have 105 devices.

Fifty workers will be on duty in front of a 104-metre-long screen, with a special design showing the main blocking points and access to the neighbourhood. A drone will also be used to monitor areas where there is no camera coverage.

The operation will be supported by representatives of municipal bodies, such as CET-Rio, the Municipal Guard, the Secretariat of Public Order (Seop) and Comlurb, as well as security teams and public service concessionaires.