In 2006 I crossed one item off my bucket list : taking part to Rio’s Carnaval. Not just watching it, but actually be a part of the Parade in a samba school. Most people don’t know this is possible, but you can do it easily without spending months in rehearsals. So here is my little Carnaval FAQ :

When and where does it take place ?

The dates of the Carnaval move every year, between February and March. The official parade takes place during 2 nights that are always a Sunday and a Monday. 6 samba schools parade during each night. The name of the champion school is announced on Ash Wednesday, and on Saturday, the 6 best schools come back for the winners parade (“Desfile das Campeãs”). During the 2 official parade nights, the show starts around 9 PM and ends only in the morning. The Parade takes place in the Sambodromo (or Avenida Marquês de…