all events of 2013 carnival in rio de janeiro

You will also find 2013 Samba Parade tickets and costumes in our website. Prepare yourself for the upcoming Rio Carnival – listen to and learn this your’s Rio Carnival samba songs!

Rio Carnival 2013 starts on Friday, February 8th and ends on Fat Tuesday, February 12th.

Samba Parades in the Sambodromo

Rio Carnival has become world-famous through the Samba Parade, a show, a display and competition of the Rio samba schools. The two major days are Carnival Sunday and Monday. The second best option is the Champions´ Parade on Saturday, February 16th, followed by the Access Group parading on Carnival Friday and Saturday (February 8th and 9th).

There are 4 different parades in the Sambodromo.

1. Samba Schools in the Special Group
Sunday, February 10th and Monday, February 11th – See time-table
This is the “THE” Parade, the highlight of the Rio Carnival. The must-see show which has made Rio de Janeiro the Carnival capital of the world. All the Carnival world revolves around those two nights.
The schools in this group are especially magnificent and sumptuous.
The two nights are similar in terms of set-up. 6 of the best 12 samba schools parade on both Sunday and Monday. Choose the one which best fits into your schedule. Doors open at 17:00, opening ceremony at 20:00, parades start at 21:00.
Rehearsals – The schools’ 2013 samba songs

2. Champions Parade
Saturday, February 16th – See time-table
Starts at 21:00. The 6 best samba schools of the Special Group, from Sunday and Monday, parade in all their splendor once more, with fireworks. 

3. Samba Schools in the Access Group
Friday, February 8th and Saturday 9th, starts at 21:00 on both days.
There are 19 large samba schools in this group, following the best 12 schools in the Special Group. The champion of this parade ascends to the Special Group.

4. Children’s Samba Schools
Tuesday, February 12th, 19:00 (doors open at 17:00).
These are branches of the big samba schools, formed by children of each community.
Their parade follows the procedure of the big schools.

2013 Rio Carnival Balls

Rio de Janeiro, as the City of Carnival, offers a selection of Carnival balls. You should not miss them. You won’t have to spend a fortune to have a great time. Tickets to most balls will cost you around U$70 to U$150. The exception is the most famous luxury hotel Copacabana Palace’s Magic Ball. There are other fantastic balls 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 balls city-wide, based on some particular themes, such as nights for singles, etc.

Costumes are not mandatory, with the exception of at a few balls. Putting on one will help you get in the right mood and will make the night even more special. 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 floor. The percussion groups are full of vigor and can be just as loud as loud-speakers in a night club.

The Magic Ball at Copacabana Palace Hotel
Saturday, February 9th, 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 open bar. There are different tickets for the individual dining rooms. All tickets provide access to all ballrooms. Best value is the standing ticket. Although it has no seat assigned, tables are available in the balcony and other areas close to the buffet.

Scala Balls

In its 50-odd year, the Scala nightclub offers thematic dances every night during Carnival, having the grandest indoor carnival parties of the city. The venue is big and very well-known.
Venue: Rio Scala – Avenida Treze de Maio 23, Centro
Standig or VIP tickets available.
VIP tickets include unlimited alcoholic drinks (except whisky) and free buffet with sushi, fruit and snack bar.

Black Balls
Friday, February 8th
This night celebrates and is dedicated to the carnaval street band Cordao do Bola Preta. It is one of the most popular nights.

Samba School Mangueira Ball
Saturday, February 9th
It is a good opportunity to experience the music and atmosphere of one of the most traditional and well-known samba schools (Mangueira) without having to visit its rehearsal space. The School will have it all – its drummer group, its main samba dancers and the flag bearer and her escort. It is a true and real samba night; you can dance all night or just watch and enjoy the crowd. This is a traditional event which happens every year.

The Marvelous City Ball
Sunday, February 10th
The night is dedicated to the city of Rio de Janeiro. The most popular and traditional samba songs are remembered and played. A nostalgic, yet fun night!

Long live the Beer! Ball
Monday, February 11th
A new event in the series. Unlimited free beer all night. Live music by a Carnival band taking turns with a Rio DJ.

Samba Land (Terreirão do Samba)

This is an open-air space that resurrects the atmosphere of Praça Onze, a big square downtown near the Sambodromo, which is the cradle of samba as samba music is supposed to have been born around here.

Samba Land is officially inaugurated before Carnival, functioning at full steam through all the nights of the festivities. You can go, have a bite and drinks in one of the 50 food stands. You will be listening to a big variety of music with live concerts on the stage
Venue: Praça Onze, Centro (Downtown)
Admission: available on the door

Merry Making in Lapa

All Carnival nights (Friday-Tuesday) from 20:00 until dawn
It takes place around the Arches of Lapa, where the young usually gather on Friday nights all year around. Rio Carnival has been long known as a nursery for novelties of rhythm and styles. It always has pleasant surprises featuring concerts ranging from traditional Brazilian music to the latest trends.

There is a popular eating area with small drink and barbecue stands. Lots of alcohol and cheap “junk” food.
Venue: Arcos da Lapa – Lapa

Street Parties

From Carnival Saturday to Tuesday, open-air dances take place throughout the city. The emphasis is on joy and spontaneity. The biggest and most organized one is on Cinelândia Square.

Apart from organized street dances, people also simply gather outside little corner bars, booze away and have fun in the street. The place which attracts the biggest crowd is outside the Sambodromo, on Samba Parade days.

Popular street dance at Cinelândia
Friday-Tuesday 17:00-03:00 am
The open-air party lasts for five days to the sounds of acclaimed orchestras and singers. These are symbols of carnival music, reviving the atmosphere of the grand carnival balls of the past.

There is a stage on the square with idols and the most well-known singers of the times of early radio (from the 40-60s) – good, old Brazilian-Rio music, mainly samba. The crowd (mainly older and working-class people) join in and dance away to the tunes. Venue: Praça Floriano, Cinelândia, Centro (Downtown)

Outside the Sambodromo
On Samba Parade nights, it does not only get packed inside the Sambodromo but, before, during and after the Parade, thousands of people gather on the streets that did not get in. They are also joined by those who parade in costume and just want to party more, making the crowd even more colorful with their fancy-dresses. It turns the whole downtown area into a huge and lively open-air bar.

Parade Rehearsals in the Community

These are real parade rehearsals with the participants and the drummers more or less in place, marching through the streets. However they happen in the schools´communities which are sometimes far away and in very impoverished areas. You can go to watch this type of rehearsal of any school but you can only participate in your own school’s parade.

Parade Rehearsals in the Sambodromo

There are grand rehearsals that take place on the samba runway in the Sambodromo itself. It is almost like the Samba Parade without costumes and floats (they are replaced by buses) and with less participants. They start in December and there will be a few almost every weekend.

The last rehearsal in the Sambodromo takes place last Sunday before Carnival
Sunday, February 3rd 21:00-23:00
Testing of lights and sound with the Samba School Unidos da Tijuca, the 2012 Grand Champion You can go and watch it. It’s an experience on its own, you can try the view from all sectors and on top, it’s free.
You can experiment most grandstand sectors, although it will be very busy. It is a good opportunity to warm you up for the great party that will develop during the Samba Parade and see it all in preparation.

After the rehearsal, there will be a large free street party with very good live samba music and people dancing on the samba runway. Some wear costumes and colorful dresses. It makes an exciting night out.

Outside the Sambodromo there is an eating area which includes small barbecue and drink stands. There is lots of booze and cheap food.
editing: d.d.manias