Carnival in Rio

candid Brazil tips

 

Why
Carnival in Rio
is special

Carnival in Rio has been called the world's most famous party. A million tourists join millions of Rio de Janeiro citizens ("cariocas") in enthusiastic revelry spanning several days.

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Carnival of Rio
highlights

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Top three

The Sambodromo parade is number one. Close runners-up are the street processions and masquerade balls.

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Carnival of Rio
schedules

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Next four years

Carnival in Rio takes place during the days preceding Ash Wednesday, the first of 40 meatless fasting days preceding Easter (Carnival derives from "carne vale" meaning "farewell to meat").

Although the official Carnival in Rio starting day is Saturday, the partying begins in earnest the night before and continues through Tuesday (Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday"). 

Here are the Carnival in Rio schedules for the next four years:

2011   Friday Mar 4  Tuesday Mar 8

2012   Friday Feb 17  Tuesday Feb 21

2013   Friday Feb 8  Tuesday Feb 12

2014   Friday Feb 28  Tuesday Mar 4

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Sambodromo
parade

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Statistics

The Sambodromo is a 700-meter (half-mile) long parade strip flanked by spectator stands and luxury boxes. On the last Sunday and Monday nights before Lent, the seats are filled with over 60,000 eager on-lookers. Tickets cost up to hundreds of dollars each and sell out quickly.

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Chief attraction of this
Carnival in Rio parade

It's the sounds and sights of the parading samba schools that go on from dusk to day break.

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Click Carnival in Rio- Page 2

Parade floats

Bands and singers

Click Carnival in Rio- Page 3

Street processions

Masquerade balls

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Brazil

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