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Bookmark & shareAlthough there are many festivals taking place all year round in Brazil, the country's most famous event is Carnaval, which lasts for five days from the Friday to the Tuesday immediately preceding Ash Wednesday. It is celebrated all over Brazil and though there are more authentic versions than the glitzy tourist drawcard held in Rio (notably Olinda and Salvador), Rio's is unforgettable nonetheless. Colorful, outrageous, hedonistic - words do little justice to the bacchanalian spectacle that lends it so much notoriety. Cariocas (Rio residents) celebrate Carnaval in every form and fashion. Nightclubs and bars throw special costumed events, while formal balls draw an elegantly dressed (or costumed) crowd. Parks and plazas (Largo do Machado, Arcos da Lapa, Praça General Osório) often host free live concerts on Carnaval weekend. The common denominators among them all are music, dancing and celebration.
The parade through the Sambódromo is the culmination of Carnaval, on the Sunday and Monday nights. It's a spectacle that features thousands of costumed dancers, elaborate floats and exuberant fans cheering on their favorite schools.
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