Okay, we are still doing Christmas shopping! Is it too early to talk about Carnival? No. Next year, Carnival in Brazil is scheduled for February 9 to 12. So, if you want to participate in the biggest party on the planet in the Marvelous City or any other city in Brazil, it’s time to plan.
The Rio Carnival takes place every year in the week leading up to Lent and attracts visitors from all corners of the globe who want to let loose and explore the culture of the Carioca Carnival. It’s inconceivable to think of Rio de Janeiro without thinking of Carnival.
Since 1984, the main party of the Rio Carnival has been held at the Sambadrome, a venue built specifically for the samba parades. The pulsating beats of the samba drums, the dancers shaking their hips, and the thousands of participants in body-hugging and elaborate costumes are just some of the many experiences of the Rio samba parades.
If you want to participate in the parade, all you need to do is buy one of the specific costumes from the school, and you become part of the team. Your energy, enthusiasm, and excitement will contribute to the success or failure of your Samba School in the final competition results.
You can just watch the parade. Entry costs around $100 for the bleachers, with reserved seats ranging from $200 to $1,000.
The Rio Carnival is not just about the Samba Schools Parade. Rio has one of the largest street carnivals in Brazil. The streets are closed off, and cars are replaced by people, while the street Carnival provides some of the most electrifying atmospheres of the Rio Carnival experience. Last year, about 5 million revelers participated in the street blocks. It’s completely free. People mingle, sing, drink, and dance all night long — and even into the next day, without breaks. The street parties happen all over the city. You just need to go out and join the crowd.