While preparations for Carnival in Venice, Putignano, or Viareggio are underway in Italy, in Brazil it is not only Rio de Janeiro gearing up for the biggest event of the year: Carnival in Brazil is equally celebrated in other cities, starting with Salvador. In this city in the state of Bahia, the celebrations are so grand and important that it is the favorite Carnival of Brazilians, both because it is very large—extending over 24 km of streets—and because it is mostly free.
Those who seek a Carnival similar to Rio may consider attending the Carnival of São Paulo: here the sambadrome also becomes the center of the festivities, yet in the surrounding streets there are plenty of parades and shows for everyone, always free.
Those who love actively participating in local celebrations will not remain indifferent to the traditions of the Carnival of Recife and Olinda: in both cities, it feels as if there is a shared festive spirit, thanks to visitors being personally involved in the parades.
The typical dance of the Carnival days is the acrobatics of the frevo dance, while the most important parade of the entire period is on Saturday morning, called “Galo de Madrugada“: it is a parade in which participants arrange themselves to reproduce the shape of a rooster along the route—the result is absolutely striking.
Finally, two quite different Carnivals are those of Paraty and Florianopolis.
The Carnival of Paraty takes place on the sea. With the help of boats, parade participants and tourists are transported from one island to another to showcase costumes and moves in a colorful competition among people. There is also another Carnival party called Bloco da Lama; in this case, participants move through the city streets but with a rather unique “costume”: they must be completely covered in mud to take part in the parades.
Of a completely different nature is the Carnival of Florianopolis, known as the biggest LGBT Carnival (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender).
The highlight is the Pop Gay Contest during which the most beautiful drag queens and transgender individuals compete for the crown of the year’s most beautiful, while all around it is a continuous party, as if inside a huge gay-friendly club decorated for the occasion.
Therefore, the Carnival in Brazil is a highly celebrated event throughout every corner of the Carioca country.
