Carnival 2011 happens from March 4 (Saturday) through 8 (Tuesday). We suggest arriving a few days earlier. There's so much to do and see during Carnival that you will not have much time left to explore the city. Try to plan your Carnival activities ahead to sample the variety. Include in your must-do's the Samba Parade, street bands, and balls.
The whole summer is Carnival season. To avoid the higher rates charged by hotels during the main event, you could arrive one or two weeks ahead. Banda de Ipanema opens Carnival 2011 street festivities on February 19 (latest photos by Silviano available at riogayguide.com). On the following weekend on Friday (Feb. 25) Cordao da Bola Preta starts gathering at 5 p.m. at Praca Maua, Downtown. In Ipanema, there's Banda Simpatia é Quase Amor on Saturday (February 26).
Samba School rehearsals are another great pre-Carnival idea. They happen every weekend at the samba courts, known as quadras de samba. These venues are in distant areas that are tricky to get to. Go with a group in a package including a local escort, and round-trip transportation. Once you're inside, it's very safe. Samba school percussion bands or baterias sometimes play live at popular South Side dance clubs and venues.
You may also consider a visit to the new City of the Samba, an area that was built specifically to lodge the workshops of Samba Schools, near the docks in the Downtown area. Though some details on floats are kept covered from prying eyes, you can see costumes being produced, and even participate in a mini-parade that happens at the end of the day on Thursdays.
The 2011 Samba Parade happens at the Sambodrome on March 6 and 7. The show starts at 9 p.m. and ends only with sunlight on the next day. The face value of tickets is shown at the website kept by Liesa. On Sunday there is a line-up of six samba schools. On Monday six other samba schools do their magic for the grand finale. Due to a fire at the Cidade do Samba affecting three major samba schools, the original line-up has been changed as shown below.
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