PARTY PLANNER

You´re arriving in Rio during a most special time – CARNIVAL – a time when the entire city explodes in a 5 day long revelry. To help you best enjoy Rio, the following is a synopsis of its main aspects and events.

Carnival Parade
Certainly the best-know Carnival event in the city. It is a big parade, divided in 3 days (of which 2 are for the Special Group of Samba Schools), and lasts approximately from 9PM to the following morning sunrise. It is truly an amazing show to behold. Each Samba School go along the Sambadrome. They contain thousands of sambistas (people who participate on parade), all divided into sections of dancers, musicians and floats.

Carnival in the Streets
By far the oldest, most widely enjoyed and, of course, cheapest form of Carnival revelry. 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 some well known spot (such as a square or a bar). After a certain time of concentration, the band starts marching its away down the streets. The show performed by drag queens is a “must see”!

There are some traditional street bands as: Banda de Ipanema (The Band of Ipanema), Monobloco, Simpatia é Quase Amor (Affection is almost love), Banda da Sá Ferreira (Sá Ferreira Street Band), Banda da Santa Clara (Santa Clara Street Band), Cordão do Bola Preta (Black Spot “Cordão”), Bloco Suvaco de Cristo (Christ´s Underarm), etc.

Carnival Balls
With a wide range of themes, dress and constituents, the Carnival Balls can be a good option for those who look for fun in a not so expensive way. Balls usually don´t start until 11PM and go strong until sunrise, with a never-ending succession of samba bands pounding out a steady rhythm all night long.
Most of the balls are quite informal affairs, open to the middle and upper-middle classes of Rio. No dress code exists, and no costume is mandatory at most balls. The most famous balls around Rio are Mangueira Ball, Gala Gay Ball, Scala Ball, Copacabana Palace Gala Ball, Red & Black Ball.