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Carnival in Rio de Janeiro |
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Colorful, outrageaous, hedonistic, gorgeous, fabulous, wonderful, stunning, amazing, magic.... This is the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Some words do little justice to the most beautiful spectacle that lends Rio de Janeiro so much notoriety. Visitors arrive in droves to join Cariocas (residents of Rio) as they drink, dance, celebrate and chalk up a few sins before Ash Wednesday brings it all to a close. Carnival officially lasts from Friday to Tuesday preceding lent, but revelry begins well in advance. Rehearsals at the Samba's schools start around September. Cariocas celebrate Carnival in every form and Fashion. Nightclubs and bars throw special costumed events, while formal balls draw an elegantly dressed crowd. Parks and Plazas such as (Largo do Machado, Arcos da Lapa, Praça General Osorio) often host free live concerts on Carnival weekend. The common denominators among them all are music, dancing and celebration. The bandas (it means Blocks of Carnival on the streets) are another good way to celebrate à la Carioca. These consist of a procession of drummers and vocalists followed by anyone who wants to dance through the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Many encourage people to dress up, drag is popular (among gays, lesbians and straights alike). The Parade Through the Sambodrome is the culmination of Carnival, o, Sundays and Mondays nights. It's a spectacle that features thousands of costumed dancers, elaborate floats and exuberant fans cheering on their favorite schools. Although there's a lot going on around town, don't expect the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro to come to you. Many visitors show up with the expectation that the party will be all around them. Not so! You have to seek it out. Carnival Balls are surreal and erotic events. The most famous one is held at the Copacabana Palace. It's a formal affair so you'll need a tux or a ball gown. You will have the opportunity to celebrate with Rio's glitterati as well as the occasional pop star who turns up. Tickets cost around US$ 500. Other balls that are decidedly less upper class are held at Scala (Leblon), Canecao (Botafogo beside Rio Sul shopping) and Help at Copacabana Beach. The most extravagant balls for gays are found at Le Boy in Copacabana and the most popular balls is held in downtown at Floriano's Plaza, which attracts around 60.000 revelers. Every night of Carnival weekend bands take the stage in front of the Câmara Municipal, in the northwest corner of the plaza. This ball is free. Tickets go on sale roughly two weeks beforehand and the balls are held nightly for the week oreceding and all through Carnival of Rio de Janeiro. Buy a copy of Veja magazine with the veja Rio insert. It has details of the Carnival balls in Rio de Janeiro. |
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