Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a huge celebration that can be lived and enjoyed in various ways, and many places. Not just at the Escola de Samba Parade at the Sambadrome but also out in the streets with the people and the music. In whichever neighborhood you are, there will be a bloco or a banda to engage and have fun. By far the oldest, most widely enjoyed and of course- cheapest form of Carnival. The coming together of people, coming from
the fun, loving carioca soul – some in elaborate costumes, some not – to dance, parade and party through the streets.
Every neighborhood in Rio has its own form of Carnival in the street. This is how it works: participants gather at a popular spot (such as a square or a bar). After a certain time of concentration, the band starts marching down the streets. The show performed by drag queens is a “must see”
Index Guide Rehearsals Balls Street Parties Samba City Tips Costumes Wings Costumes
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Parade
Sambadrome
FAQ
Parade Types
Champio ns Parade Divisions & Characters
Sectors Seating Charts Rehearsals
Tickets Sambadrome Visit Sambadrome Parade Balls FAQ
Request a Quote Hotel Carnival Package Special Service Flights
Samba Land (Terreirão do Samba) - Downtown February 25th, 26th, March 4th8th, 11th and 12th Starting at 19:00 and finishing at around 5:30 the following morning This is an open-air space that resurrects the atmosphere of PraçaOnze, a big square downtown near the Sambadrome, which is the cradle of samba as samba music is supposed to have been born around here. Samba Land is officially inaugurated before Carnival, functioning at full steam through all the nights of the festivities. You can go, have a bite and booze in one of the 50 food stands. You will be listening to a big variety of music with live concerts on the stage Venue: PraçaOnze, Centro (Downtown)
Samba Parades in the Sambadrome: Rio Carnival has become worldfamous through the Samba Parade, a show, a display and competition of the Rio samba schools. The two major days are Carnival Sunday and Monday. Try not to miss it. If you really can't afford it, at least go on some other day, which is significantly cheaper albeit less grand. The second best option is the Champions´ Parade on Saturday March 12th, followed by the Access Group parading on Carnival Saturday (March 5th).
Outside the Sambadrome: On Samba Parade nights, it does not only get packed inside the Sambadrome but, before, during and after the Parade, thousands of people gather on the streets that did not get in. They are also joined by those who parade in costume and just want to party more, making the crowd even more colorful with their fancy-dresses. It turns the whole downtown area into a huge and lively open-air bar.
Official Rehearsals January
Date
Week day
9
Sunday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
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7 PM
8 PM
9 PM
Rocinha
S. Clemente
Salgueiro
Alegria da Zona Sul
Viradouro
Imperatriz
Cubango
Mocidade
Unidos da Tijuca
Pilares
União da Ilha
Grande Rio
Mangueira
Porto da Pedra
Portela
Beija- Flor
Vila Isabel
Renascer
Santa Cruz
February Date
Week day
6
Sunday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
19
Saturday
20
Sunday
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
7 PM
8 PM
Império Serrano
Estácio de Sá
Inocentes
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Imp. da Tijuca
Salgueiro
S. Clemente
União da Ilha
Mocidade
Mangueira
P. da Pedra
Portela
Vila Isabel
Grande Rio
Imperatriz
Beija-Flor
Light and Sound Test – very good!
Group A (5th March) Special Group (6th + 7th March)
Balls
10 PM
Rio offers a selection of Carnival balls you really cannot miss. A ticket to most Carnival balls will cost you around 40.00 USD to 1800.00 USD. Costumes are not mandatory, with the exception of a few balls. Putting on something special will help you get in the right mood, though coming with a group, you can reserve a table, or even a box. A true Carnival Ball features live music. It's usually 2 bands taking turns, and sometimes there is a guest vocalist. Samba percussion is supposed to be very loud. Bring earplugs, if you have sensitive ears. Balls usually don't start until 11pm and go strong until sunrise. There are a big variety of balls for all tastes: Gala Balls, Balls for singles Gay balls etc. Most of the balls are quite informal affairs, open to the middle and upper-middle classes of Rio (popular balls, cheaper, wilder and potentially dangerous are also readily available, please make sure you select well your ball, by asking us). Recommended only for Adults. Rio also offers Popular Balls which are promoted by Rio`s Town Hall and FREE
Ball Masque 2011 Friday, March 11th, 22:00-05:00 Live music taking turns with a DJ and the drummers of one of the best Rio samba schools. Dress formal or wear a fancy-dress. Venue: Hotel Sofitel, Av. Atl창ntica 4240 / Level E - Copacabana Prices include free buffet and drinks Copacabana Palace Ball Saturday 5th March, 23:00-05:00 The most glamorous party in Rio. Its magnificent salons are decorated in a different theme every year. This is where the cream of Rio de Janeiro society and the city's celebrity can be seen. It starts at 11.00PM. Men and women dressed in black tie dance the night away to the sounds of a live band, in the breathtaking Golden Room. A traditional Carnival buffet is served and the party lasts until the wee hours. The ball has a different theme every year, and is where the most beautiful costumes can be seen. Gala dress - black tie or costume is required for the Copa's ball. Address: Copacabana Palace Hotel - Av. Atl창ntica, 1.702 Copacabana.
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Gay Costume Ball Tuesday, March 8th until 7:00 am This is probably the most famous night in the series. A truly exotic collection of characters take to the two floors and a grand entrance is de rigueur. The ball is broadcast to the whole of Brazil. It attracts a flamboyant crowd with lots of drag queens and their admirers. It is very popular with all folks not only gay boys and girls. Standing Ticket VIP box seat Table for 4
Scala Balls - Over the last few years; the Scala Club in Leblon has become an important center for balls and has hosted many important balls. The last carnival Scala hosted the following balls: Mangueira Ball - The traditional Mangueira samba school's rhythm plays during the ball. Beija-Flor Ball - The traditional Beija-flor samba school's rhythm plays during the ball. Salgueiro Ball - The traditional Salgueiro samba school's rhythm plays during the ball. Red and Black - (the "Red and Black Ball") has developed a particular reputation as a no-holdsbarred affair. Named after the colors of Rio's favorite football team, Flamengo, it's a media event with TV cameras scanning the crowds for famous faces. Wonderful City - It is a tribute to the wonderful Rio de Janeiro city. Scala Gala - Famous people can be seen here. Galera or Radio Ball - Hip hop and other kind of music mix with samba. Gala Gay - A fun event is the straight-friendly Scala Gay Costume Ball which stars exotic costumes, characters and grand entrances. People wear something colorful and fun. Address: Scala - Av. Afr창nio de Melo Franco 296. Leblon
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Street Parties – All areas From Carnival Satur day to Tuesday, open-air dances take place throughout the cit y. The emphasis is on joy and spontaneit y. The biggest and most organized one is on Cinelândia Square. Apart f rom organized street dances, people also simply gather outside little corner bars, booze away and have f un in the street. The place which attracts the biggest crowd is out side the Sambadr ome, on Samba Parade days. Popular Street dance at Cinelândia Friday-Tuesday 17:00-03:00 am
The open-air part y lasts f or f ive days to the sounds of acclaimed orchestras and singers. These are symbols of carnival music, reviving the atmosphere of the grand carnival balls of the past. There is a stage on t he square with idols and the most well-known singers of the times of early radio (f rom the 40-60s) - good, old Brazilian-Rio music, mainly samba.
The crowd joins in and dances away to the tunes. Venue: Pr aça Flor iano, Cinelândia, Centro (Downtown)
Cordão do Bola Preta – Downtown Very, very traditional street group, it has been taking part of Rio's carnival since the 50's! It concentrates itself in Cinelandia, Receives around 30.000 revelers.
Simpatia É Quase Amor – Ipanema Street group composed of some journalists who used to meet at a bar in Ipanema. It counts on themes committed to politics, conquering the fidelity of several followers.
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Rio Maracatu Other street group with young people. It has got around 25 musicians and dancers. Even though the general public is composed of university students, it also attracts people from the Northeast who are living in Rio and want to catch up with the nostalgia for their homeland, since this street group puts on the dances of old carnivals from the northeast part of the country. Last year, the group paraded on the south part of Rio de Janeiro's city.
Carmelitas – Santa Teresa Street group of Santa Tereza's neighborhood, very famous due to its location. Santa Tereza is a place where sorts of artists live, being essencially a cultural neighborhood. This street group also brings up political themes and its lyrics usually refer to some Brazilian authority or celebrity. Carmelitas is the name of a sisterhood of a historical convent in Santa Tereza. Don't forget to take your nun's hat as part of the costume.
Rio Samba City
Carnival all year round!!! Pick your fancy dress and get the Carnival spirit, parading in a dream that's real! Backed by the Rio de Janeiro Mayor's Office which built Brazil's largest art and entertainment complex the Samba Schools are proud to present the making-of the greatest show on earth. Located in the Rio Docklands, "Cidade do Samba" clusters together the costumes workshops and float production
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centers of the largest Samba Schools in Brazil. This entertainment complex is planned to offer visitors all the grassroots charm and excitement of Carnival throughout the year, enjoying the magic of the festivities that make Rio de Janeiro the world's party capital. Visitors watch real floats being built and see Carnival costumes being prepared, while learning about unique percussion instruments that hammer out that irresistible samba beat.
The Forces of nature Show
The success with the show "Citizen Samba" last year boosted an even more elaborate presentation, carefully prepared by the choreographer Carlinhos de Jesus (design, art direction and script), the Carnaval designer Milton Cunha (Atelier and set design direction) and conductor Jorge Cardoso (musical direction).The spectacle is a work of LIESA and the Rio city hall, with encouragement of the Federal Law Rouanet for the private support to Culture. This made possible a technical upgrade, with more investments in lighting, sound, set design and costumes.
Singers, percussionists, Samba dancers, Bahian ladies, highlights, flag-bearers and masters of ceremonies from Special Group Samba Schools comprise the cast. The spectacle counts 141 costumes and six stage sets, produced by instructors and students of art workshops of the Project "Armazém do Samba", which aims to train new professionals for the Carnival industry,
operating in Workshop 1, in Rio Samba City. Great names of Brazilian music (MPB) such as Chico Buarque, Tom Jobim, Ary Barroso, Ataulfo Alves, Geraldo Pereira and Jorge Ben Jor, among others were selected to compose the soundtrack. The final part of the show is dedicated to a poutpourri of samba-songs, almost all featuring nature-related themes. To close the
presentation, the artists invite the audience to take part on a parade along the ground that surrounds the 12 workshops, to the sound of the samba-song that gave Beija-Flor Samba School the Carnival bichampionship, in 2008: "Macapaba: Equinócio Solar, Viagens Fantásticas ao Meio do Mundo". Thursdays, at 9 pm.
Tips and Insiders Points: How to dress Wear whatever you prefer. There are no rules not even standards what to wear for the Samba Parade (bear in mind that Rio people go even to weddings and funerals in colorful bermudas). People and celebrities in the boxes will dress up, however. In the Grand Stand sectors, informal street style rules. Use very light clothing as it is usually hot throughout the night but wear darker colors so as not to get too dirty. A raincoat should be considered for the eventuality of a summer shower nevertheless if it rains, vendors will surely have them on sale in the Sambadrome. What to take Be prepared that it is only fast food that is available in the Sambadrome. So we suggest having your dinner before setting off. You could take plastic containers with beverages and some food such as sandwiches and fruits. Objects made of polystyrene, bottles, glasses, firecrackers and fireworks are forbidden. Umbrellas are not a good idea, as they can easily get in the way of other people's view of the Parade. As the show is extremely long and goes on until
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sunrise, some people take little mattresses and/or pillows to sit on and even have a nap on. You should take some toilet tissue as in the late hours it might run short in the bathrooms. Some people take binocular/theatre glasses. You can take any type of still camera or normal video cameras (however professional video cameras are not allowed) etc., it is totally safe inside the Sambadrome. But be warned - only show them after you already checked in and be careful with anything valuable outside.
Subway
Taxi
It goes uninterrupted all round the clock on Carnival days until 23.00 on Tuesday, at 10 minute intervals during the night. It is safe on Carnival days and leaves you very close to the Sambadrome when all other traffic comes to a still-stand.
Best to hail one on the street as there are many and you won´t have to wait when traffic times are unpredictable. Tell the driver in advance of your sector number. The taximeter or an agreement with the driver sets the price of the journey.
Even-numbered sectors Get off at "PraçaOnze" station. Once outside the station, turn twice to your right and then walk straight ahead. For sectors 4 and 6, take RuaCarmoNeto and walk on to Av. Salvador de Sá. You will see the Sambadrome soon.
There is a little extra tariff to leave the Sambadrome. Ask before getting in (and negotiate) but it should only set you back R$3050 (app. US$20). There are 2 dedicated taxi companies which are exclusively serving the Sambadrome on Samba Parade days, they have a good fleet of cars. They cost a bit more than regular taxis (about R$60) but the advantage is that they will take you right inside your own sector.
Odd-numbered sectors Get off at "Central" station. Then walk following the crowd to the Sambadrome, approximately 700 meters (half a mile), going past the schools' floats and Samba
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