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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Rio Carnival 2008 or Samba Parade




Rio Carnival 2008 starts on Saturday, February 2nd and ends on Fat Tuesday, February 5th.

Every Carnival Day

Evenings - Popular dances at Cinelândia
20.00 Concerts start at Samba Land and in Lapa
23.00 Rio Scala Ball

Friday, February 1st
13.00 Opening Ceremony - the Carnival King (Momo) is crowned by the city mayor and receives the city´s keys
19.00 Children´s Samba Schools Parade

Saturday, February 2nd
09.30 Street Band Cordão do Bola Preta (Downtown)
16.00 Banda de Ipanema meets at Praça General Osório, Ipanema
19.00 Official Costume Competition in Hotel Gloria
20.00 Street Band Competition in Av. Rio Branco, Centro (Downtown)
21.00 Parade of the Samba Schools in the Access Group
23.00 The Magic Ball at Copacabana Palace Hotel

Sunday, February 3rd
21.00 Parade of the Samba Schools in the Special Group

Monday, February 4th
21.00 Parade of the Samba Schools in the Special Group

Tuesday, February 5th
16.00 Banda de Ipanema marches for the last time
21.00 Parade of the Samba Schools in Group "B"
23.00 Gay Costume Ball in Rio Scala

Although Carnival (Carnaval in Portuguese) is celebrated in towns and villages throughout Brazil and other Catholic countries, Rio de Janeiro has long been regarded as the Carnival Capital of the World. The Rio Carnaval is not only the biggest Carnival, benchmark against which every other carnival is compared but also one of the most interesting artistic events on the Globe. Pretty much everyone has heard of the Rio Carnaval. Foreign visitors to it alone number around 500,000 every year.

Rio Carnival is a wild 4 day celebration, 40 days before Easter. It officially starts on Saturday and finishes on Fat Tuesday with the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday after which one is supposed to abstain from all bodily pleasures. Carnival with all its excesses, celebrated as a profane event, can thus be considered an act of farewell to the pleasures of the flesh. It usually happens in February, the hottest month in the Southern Hemisphere, when the Rio summer is at its peak.

There are carnival celebrations in virtually every corner of Brazil, the best-known ones taking place in Recife together with the neighboring Olinda (in the North of Brazil) and Salvador. But the biggest and most famous carnival is undoubtedly the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Read all the details of the 2008 Rio Carnival - calendar, programs, events and venues with recommendations, schedule and ticket details.

One of the greatest elements of the Rio Carnaval is that it not only provides entertainment for many people around the world but at the same time it gives also a chance to learn about the true culture of Brazil. Carnival is very important to the Brazilians being their very rich cultural manifestation.

It is a euphoric event where people dance, sing, party and have tons of fun. There are many parties that take place before, during and after Carnival all night and all day. It allows someone's true heart to come out and have as much fun as possible.

Rio Carnival is the result of months of preparation. People eagerly anticipate the start of each year's Rio Carnival. It begins with the crowning of the Fat King (King Momo), who is presented with a giant silver and gold key by the city's mayor.
Then it is Carnival all over the place, in the streets and squares, bars, clubs and all other venues, taking over the whole city of Rio and culminating in the Rio Carnival Parade also known as the Samba Parade.

Coming to Rio Carnival means a bit of preparation though. You should not only get your flight and accommodation but think about your Rio Carnival tickets in advance, too. Study the Rio Carnival 2008 event calendar and pick the ones you intend to attend. Make sure whether, how and when you have to buy your tickets.

Try to organize your accommodation also well in advance and get your costumes for the Samba Parade. After all the preparation work just come, dive in and enjoy it all!

Accommodation during Rio Carnival

You should really organize your accommodation for the 2008 Rio Carnival well in advance. The best hotels, especially in South Rio (the Zona Sul) are booked up early, so it¹s a good idea to make a reservation at least 3 or 4 months in advance.

Where to Stay

The so-called Zona Sul (the South End i.e. South Rio) is by far the most pleasant place to stay in Rio. It is by the sea and is the most civilized part of the city. Leblon and Ipanema are more upmarket than Copacabana, which has become rather seedy in recent years. There are plenty of hotels of international standard as well as clean and safe small hotels and a couple of good hostels. Most hotels only offer a fixed-rate 5 night package during Carnival, against pre-payment, and these rates are significantly higher than at other times of the year.

Many people in Rio let their apartments or a room privately during Carnival as rates are so high at that time. You can search under temporary accommodation or through friends.

more info

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