Rio de Janeiro Event: Rio Carnival

Wow - WOW - W-O-W That sums up the event in three simple words - alright one! Either way, this is the place to be seen, to dance, to sing, to move, to parade, to dress up, to meet, to - well do whatever you really want to.

Rio Carnival is a wild four day celebration which takes place 40 days before Easter.  It officially starts on a Saturday and finishes on Fat Tuesday with the beginning of Lent taking place the following day on Ash Wednesday.  Traditionally, Rio Carnival has been known as a farewell to physical excesses!  Taking place in February, it is the hottest month of the year in Rio, when summer is at its peak.

One thing to note - as well as planning your flights, hotels, etc please do remember to look at the event calendar and book tickets to the events you want to go to.  After all, you would not want to get all the way there and find that the events you want to attend are fully booked!

Plenty of stories make their way back from Rio Carnival and become Urban Myths - the only way to find out the truth is to visit and enjoy the festival. The carnival has everything going for it, and with an ever-increasing gay community it is only going to get bigger...

 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 20th
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 21st
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 22nd
21.00 Parade of the Samba Schools in the Special Group

Monday, February 23rd
21.00 Parade of the Samba Schools in the Special Group

Tuesday, February 24th
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

2009 RIO CARNIVAL BALLS

Rio de Janeiro, as the City of Carnival, offers a selection of Carnival balls you really should not miss. You won't have to spend a fortune to have a great time. Tickets to most balls will cost you around R$30 to R$50 ($15-20) and are available on the door. Exceptions are the two most famous ones in the luxury hotels Copacabana Palace and Gloria. Other great balls are in Rio Scala. Clube dos Caiçaras and the Hard Rock Cafe's Kid's Folia also organize animated costume balls for adults and children. There are more theme balls city-wide e.g. balls for singles etc.
Costumes are not mandatory, with the exception of a few balls. Putting on one will help you get in the right mood and will make the night even more special, though. Bear in mind however that Rio is the capital of Carnival and costume standards are very high.
A true Carnival ball features live music and samba rules the floors. The percussion groups are full of vigor and can be just as loud as vast loud-speakers in a night club.

 

The Magic Ball at Copacabana Palace Hotel
Saturday, February 21st, from 23:00
This legendary ball is not just the high point of the night but also the most famous Carnival ball; the natural choice for glamour and sophistication. Luxury costume or black tie/evening dress is required, and a number of international and local VIPs are always among the guests. All tickets include buffet dinner and free bar.
There are different tickets for the individual dining rooms. All tickets provide access to all ballrooms.
Tickets for the Golden Room include a seat at a table of 6, 10 or 12 people.
Tickets for the Noble Room include a seat at a table of 10 or 12.
Standing tickets do not offer a table seat; however, good weather allowing, there will be tables on the balcony.
Golden Room: R$1,950.00
Noble Room: R$1,300.00
Standing: R$1,000.00
Box: R$2,750 per person
Venue: Copacabana Palace Hotel, Avenida Atlantica 1702 - Copacabana
Tel: (+55 21) 2545 8790

 

Official Costume Competition in Hotel Gloria
Saturday, February 21st
This is a very traditional Carnival event in Rio with the best, biggest and most original costumes of the year (mainly the so called destaques). It offers you the chance to see the best costumes of the principal samba schools before the Samba Parade, at close hand. There are also entrants with costumes only made especially for this event.
It is a big night with app. 900 people attending and it takes place in the halls of Hotel Gloria, one of the best and smartest hotels in Rio. The presentation is very theatrical. The huge and dazzling costumes represent historical characters or any chosen theme, according to the imagination of the gentlemen, ladies and drag queens who participate in the event. They compete in 4 categories: the sumptuous, the original, drag queen and soul.
You do not have to wear a costume; you can just go and see the competition.
Venue: Hotel Gloria, Rua do Russel 632 - Gloria
Doors open at 18.30 and the competition starts at 19.00. It finishes at about 22:30.
Admission: R$50.00 - free ticket delivery within the city of Rio
Tickets are on sale at the hotel or at Rua Senador Dantas 117 / Room 2009 - Centro (Downtown) or call and reserve on 2267-1692 / 8804-9484 (Senhora Nilce-only Portuguese spoken).

Ball Masque 2009
Friday, February 27th, 22:00-05:00
Live music taking turns with a DJ and the drummers of Imperatriz, one of the best Rio samba schools. This will be its third year and this time the theme is 'Moulin Rouge' .
Dress formal or wear a fancy-dress.
Venue: Hotel Sofitel, Av. Atlântica 4240 / Level E - Copacabana
Admission: R$370.00
Table seat per person: R$500.00
Prices include free buffet and drinks
Tel: (+55 21) 2525-1206 (Alexandra-English spoken 9:00-18:00)