| Event | Date | Tickets | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sun Feb 22, 2009
|
|
Sambodromo
|
|
|
Mon Feb 23, 2009
|
|
Sambodromo
|
| Carnival is Rio's main event. It happens at the peak of summer, when Cariocas are at their best. Festivities attract thousands of people from all corners of the world. Carnaval, as spelled in Portuguese, is a 4-day celebration. It starts on Saturday, and ends on Fat Tuesday, or Mardi-Gras. Dates change every year. Carnival Sunday is seven weeks before Easter Sunday. The origins of Carnival are unclear, but most agree that it started as a pagan celebration in ancient Rome or Greece. Carnival balls were imported to Rio from Italy in the late nineteenth century, and had their golden era in the 1930 through 50's, with legendary balls at the Copacabana Palace and the Municipal Theater. |