First-Timers Guide to the Rio Carnival

When is Carnival in Brazil

Carnival lasts for five days. The dates vary each year because they depend on the Catholic Easter, which in turn depends on the lunar calendar and the Jewish Passover. Carnival in Brazil takes place from Friday to Tuesday and ends on the eve of Ash Wednesday, when Catholic Lent begins.

The holiday is usually in February or early March, but preparations can be seen with the naked eye a couple of weeks before the start. The earliest start date for the carnival is January 30, which won’t happen until 2285, and the latest end date for the celebration is March 10, but that will have to wait until 2038.

Carnival in Rio De Janeiro In Numbers

The most spectacular, the most famous, the largest in the world and the most popular among tourists is the carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The first carnival in Rio de Janeiro was held almost 200 years ago – back in 1723, and today it brings together over 6 million participants and spectators. To imagine the scale of the event, think about the numbers:

• 3,000 dancers participate in 5 parades at the Rio de Janeiro Sambodrome
• Some 17,000 police officers guard the peace of the celebrating city
• 106,000,0000 condoms distributed for free to those celebrating in 2018
• That same year, 6,800,000,000 liters of beer were drunk during the carnival!
• More than 32,000 public toilets take to the streets of the city during Carnival days

Rio De Janeiro Parade: Sambodrome

To get to one of the parades as part of the competition of the capital’s top samba schools is an unforgettable experience! Tickets cost anywhere from $40 to several hundred dollars, and the price depends on the sector, the prestige of the parade, and the comfort of the seat. Performances are watched standing, seated, in comfortable outdoor and indoor boxes.

The parade begins at 9 p.m. and lasts until morning. Each samba school’s performance lasts about 80 minutes and is strictly regulated. It is judged by more than 50 judges and 72,000 spectators at the Sambodrome applaud the dancers!

How to Get Involved

Another way to enjoy the parade in Rio de Janeiro is to march in front of tens of thousands of spectators as part of one of the city’s best dance schools. All you need to do is reserve a costume in advance. The costume price depends on its complexity and popularity of the school and can range from $200 to several thousand dollars. A nice moment: after the parade is over, the costume will be left to you!

However, don’t make the decision to participate in the parade lightly. After all, this is not only an entertainment event, but also a tough competition, so participants are required to iron discipline and strict adherence to the rules, and for being late or untidy costume you can be suspended from participating in the parade. It’s also worth noting that a few hours in a bulky synthetic outfit is an ordeal for a body unused to the Brazilian summer. But the experience of the carnival will last a lifetime!

Luxurious Balls

During the carnival there are closed-door parties, balls, each of which has its own charm and flavor. Do you want to feel like a real celebrity? Go to the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace Hotel! This sophisticated event requires a black tie dress code – a tuxedo for men and a floor dress for women. Tickets will cost you a pretty penny, but if you’re here, you’re definitely a VIP!

Want mad fun, a riot of colors, odious travesty divas and drag queens? Don’t miss the extraordinary and magical Gay Gala Ball costume party at the Scala Rio nightclub.

Street Parties Blocos

Parades and balls in Rio aren’t the whole carnival! Even if you can’t make it to the indoor events, you can enjoy the festive atmosphere for free at one of the street parties – blocos. They are scheduled and spontaneous once someone remembers they have a great stereo stashed away and draw anywhere from a few hundred to a few hundred thousand people!

Tips for Tourists

1) Clothes: if you’re not going to one of the balls, don’t dress up: choose light summer clothes for hot and humid weather – and you won’t make a mistake!

2) Money: Get cash in advance. ATMs may not work during carnival week. But don’t carry the complete amount of money with you.

3) Modesty is an ornament: do not wear expensive jewelry and do not carry large sums of money, keep an eye on your cell phone and camera. While everything is rattling and shining around, pickpockets are not sleeping.

4) Water: Drink lots of water and don’t let the hot Brazilian nights pass you by!

5) Logistics: The metro is your main carrier during Carnival days, and to avoid the queues, buy a card for a few days in advance.

Carnivals in Brazil: Where Else to Go for Fun

Rio de Janeiro is not the only city in Brazil that hosts a carnival on the eve of Lent.

• Salvador (Bahia State) – the biggest street parade in Brazil takes place here, in the capital of the most musical state of the country! About 2 million tourists come here every year!
• Olinda and Recife – the local carnival dances spectacular frevo dances with traditional umbrellas
• São Paulo – the business center of Brazil, like Rio, hosts a magnificent and spectacular samba school parade as part of the carnival
• Manaus – the most famous carnival in the Amazon attracts tourists with costume parades and unique traditions of the region

Be sensible and careful, and your stay in Brazil will be remembered only by positive feelings and emotions.