Carnival Week in Rio de Janeiro

In late summer in Rio de Janeiro, from February 5th through the 10th, Rio Carnival 2016 will be celebrated by over 1 million visitors as well as local residents

With hundreds of street parties and balls there is plenty to do for everyone. Rio Carnival 2016 will culminate when the top Samba schools in Rio compete with each other to put on the best parade extravaganza possible.

During Rio Carnival 2016 the Samba schools will use the most modern technology possible to create jaw dropping show parades. Back in 1641 when the precursor to the modern Carnival was celebrated it consisted of a few elegant balls and masquerade dances. These balls were held to mirror the upper class festivals taking place in Paris and other major European cities.

When the Portuguese immigrants began to settle in Rio they brought with them their love of rough play, pelting friends and family with food, water and mud into the celebrations of the Carnival. Over the years the street fights became sophisticated parades filled with the aristocracy walking through the neighborhoods dressed in elegant and expensive costumes.

Nowadays the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro means 5 days of non-stop partying and fun. Millions of revellers from all around the globe visit the city, especially to be a part of the most famous carnival in the world. The parades in the carnival are dazzlingly colorful and are filled with floats and decorations from samba dancers and performers.

The carnival parade takes place in the Sambadrome, and passes through the streets of Rio de Janeiro gaining momentum. As many as 50 thousand performers take part in the celebration to make up the greatest show on the earth. Innumerable students from Samba schools take part in the carnival with a definite theme and all dress up accordingly along with massive decorations.

The Rio de Janeiro carnival also presents the carnival ball, a ball which is highly anticipated by all and which takes place at the Copacabana Palace and the beach. Except the Copacabana Palace Ball, balls in Rio won’t be heavy on your pockets. The Balls too comes with a wide range of different themes such as Balls for singles, for couples, gay balls, masquerade ball, etc. You can be a part of the carnival and the balls just muster all your enthusiasm, and start grooving to the lively beats of Samba, Frevos or any other Brazilian song.