Celebrating Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

We returned from our overland journey to Iguazú Falls (Iguaçu Falls) just in time to attend the Rio de Janeiro Carnival 2024 on the last night in the Sambodromo, where the top 12 Samba Schools (6 each night) give performances (each limited to no more that 70 minutes – with a timer visible to all) – with each school marching through the Sambodromo with around 2,500 dancers, singers, drummers, and dancers on floats.

We joined about 70,000 people, beginning at 10 p.m. for the samba parades down the wide Marquês de Sapucaí Avenue that runs the length of the Sambodromo.

Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel school opened the second night (Monday) – when we attended — with the history of the cashew tree fruit, presenting its legends and curiosities that are known by the Brazilian people.

Unidos de Vila Isabel school will reissue in 2024 the subject “Gbala — Journey to the Temples of Creation” from 1993.

With samba by Martinho de Vila, the school emphasizes the importance of children for a better world, carrying forward the values and teachings of the orishas.

Photography courtesy of Richard E.