Rio Carnival 2024: When is it, where is it and what are the best events to attend?

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Rio Carnival is one in every of the largest, boldest and brightest events in the Brazilian calendar, and it’s taking the nation’s tourism capital by storm subsequent week.

The sound of samba rings, raucous events rage and sold-out parades stun at the world-famous bash spanning Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo for eight days every February.

With hundreds of thousands dancing to the beat of bloco road events in a sea of costumes, color and caipirinha cocktails outdoors, and 1000’s seated inside the purpose-built Sambadrome to watch the samba colleges sway in sync, this is one you’ll need to add to your journey bucket listing.

So when is Rio Carnival, what is it celebrating, and how will you become involved? Here’s every little thing you want to know.

When is Rio Carnival?

The Carnival is an annual occasion that all the time begins on the Friday earlier than Ash Wednesday. This 12 months, that date is 9 February. It spans the next few days, ending on Ash Wednesday (14 February), the day Lent begins. The Champions Parade – a fusion of singing and dancing where the prime six samba colleges get to strut their stuff – will happen on Saturday 17 February.

Where is Rio Carnival?

Events happen in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s most cosmopolitan metropolis. All the primary samba competitions between rival dance colleges and parades happen in the Sambadrome – a purpose-built parade space created for the Carnival in downtown Cidade Nova. After the official events, the celebration spills out onto the streets in each nook of the metropolis.

What does the Carnival have a good time?

Rio Carnival is each rooted in European pagan traditions and Catholicism. It was initially a meals pageant when folks would take their final alternative to gorge earlier than the starting of Lent, historically a time of abstinence and fasting in the Catholic Church.

But the distinctive really feel of the Carnival comes from the cultural conflict between the Portuguese colonisers and the indigenous folks. The settlers purchased over the custom of Entrudo (Carnival) from Europe, where it met with the native inhabitants’s ardour for music and dance.

It regularly developed into an annual city-wide celebration, culminating in the invention of samba in the early twentieth century. The first samba colleges have been established in the Twenties, with the first samba parade competitions held in 1933.

What are the primary events?

The anticipated Sambadrome samba parades take centre stage throughout the carnival of color. The Access Group parade class – underdogs composed of 16 conventional samba colleges – strains up to shake and shimmy on the 9 and 10 of February whereas Special Group parades on Sunday and Monday showcase the six prime colleges that Rio has to provide.

How lengthy is the Rio Carnival parade? 

There are 4 nights of samba competitions on 9, 10 11 and 12 February operating from 9pm to 3am. Each samba faculty has 80 minutes to parade down the strip to the Sambadrome with six to eight teams taking the stage by storm – that’s between seven and eight hours of samba-mania an evening.

Is Rio Carnival free and do you want to purchase a ticket? 

Entry to the parades and samba competitions – the coronary heart of festivities – require tickets that begin from $15 (£12) for grandstand seats on the Sambadrome’s big concrete bleachers.

Elsewhere, over 500 free road events dance via most communities in the vibrant metropolis with bands that encourage your personal full of life interpretation of signature samba strikes with a caipirinha cocktail in hand.

There’s additionally the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace, dubbed the “grandest and most luxurious occasion in the Carnival”, which takes place on Saturday 10 February. Guests can guide seats on a desk for a buffet dinner and entry to the open bar or buy a standing ticket.

How many individuals attend Rio Carnival? 

In 2023, the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism estimated that Rio Carnival would appeal to 46 million home and worldwide guests to the first post-pandemic parades, celebrations and road events referred to as blocos throughout the entire nation.

Around two million samba lovers take to the streets every day and the Sambadrome itself accommodates up to 90,000 folks an evening throughout the week of festivities.

How are you able to participate?

Other than shopping for tickets for the parades and absorbing the environment, Carnival goers may decide to take part themselves by becoming a member of one in every of the out there samba colleges. All they’ve to do is buy one in every of the official costumes listed on the web site. However, it’s price getting in there early – costumes are topic to availability and the organisers have a tendency to promote out by mid-January.

Is Rio Carnival secure for vacationers?

Yes, though common security precautions needs to be taken at the occasion.

The UK authorities advises: “If you are attending a large-scale celebration in Brazil, such as the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro or other major cities, be aware that criminals target people who appear to be wealthy or easy targets, for example, those who have drunk a lot of alcohol.

“Be aware of your personal security and surroundings and be cautious about proposals from strangers that take you away from public areas.”

Visit rio-carnival.internet to guide tickets and for additional data.