Festivites started early with Cordão da Bola Preta. One of Rio de Janeiro’s most traditional bandas, it attracted a record 200 thousand partiers who took over the streets of Downtown.

A little later in the afternoon Banda de Ipanema went on its second parade of the year. The band has become so well-known around the world that today it has a high percentage of international visitors among the crowd. Many of them come in costumes or bring along a mask, and mingle with a crowd.

At night the parade of access group schools at the Sambodrome attracted a crowd of 60 thousand paying spectators. The selection includes a number of samba schools that have already been part of the special group. Uniao da Ilha had a brilliant performance, and many believe it will be the one to make it back to the big league.

Vizinha Faladeira was also a highlight. One of the cars portrayed Copacabana’s Chopin building (next door to the Copacabana Palace). It counted with the presence of residents Narcisa Tamborindeguy, Andre Ramos and Bruno Chateaubriand with his female clone Thais Macedo (from Big Brother Brasil).

Please click on picture to enlarge it.

Please click on picture to enlarge it.