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A dancer from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Twenty Six.jpg]()
Dancers perform on their Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school float during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Twenty Five.jpg]()
Portela samba school dancers parade through the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Twenty Two]()
Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school dancers parade through the Sambadrome during Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Twenty.jpg]()
March 6: Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school floats parade through the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Fifteen.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school parades through the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Thirteen.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers perform during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Twelve.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers perform during a carnival parade through the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Eleven.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers perform during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Ten.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers perform during a carnival parade through the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Nine.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers perform during a carnival parade through the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana))![Brazil Carnival Eight.jpg]()
A performer from the Mangueira samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Seven.jpg]()
The Mangueira samba school performs during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Six.jpg]()
The Mangueira samba school performs during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Green]()
Dancers perform during the parade of Mocidade Alegre samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, March 6, 2011. Brazil's official carnival is held this year March 4-8. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)![Brazil Carnival Green.jpg]()
A drummer performs during the parade of Mocidade Alegre samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, March 6, 2011. Brazil's official carnival is held this year March 4-8. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)![Brazil Carnival Ninety.jpg]()
Aguia de Ouro samba school dancers perform on their float during carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)![Brazil Puzzles.jpg]()
Dancers perform on a float during the parade of Mocidade Alegre samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, March 6, 2011. Brazil's official carnival is held this year March 4-8. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)![Brazil Carnival Four.jpg]()
Mangueira samba school performs during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Three.jpg]()
Vila Isabel samba school dancers perform during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Two.jpg]()
Brazilian top model Gisele Bundchen dances on a Vila Isabel samba school float during carnival celebrations in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival One.jpg]()
The Vila Isabel samba school performs during a carnival parade in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Fifty.jpg]()
Brazilian top model Gisele Bundchen performs on a Vila Isabel samba school float during carnival celebrations in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)![Brazil Carnival Thirty.jpg]()
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, left, talks with her husband, U.S. football player Tom Brady, during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Fourty Nine.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers parade through the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Fourty Six]()
Women watch the Unidos da Tijuca samba school parade during carnival celebrations in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Forty.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers parade through the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Sixteen.jpg]()
Pamela Anderson gestures from the stands as she watches a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)![Brazil Carnival Thirty Five.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers perform in the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Thirty Four.jpg]()
Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancers parade through the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![Brazil Carnival Twenty Eight.jpg]()
A Portela samba school dancer, left, greets people during a carnival parade through the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)![brazilten]()
A dancer performs during the parade of Vila Maria samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday March 6, 2011.![brazileleven]()
Dancers from the Vila Maria samba school perform on their float during carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo, Brazil.![brazilnine]()
A member of Mocidade Alegre samba school performs in a parade during carnival celebrations.![brazileight]()
Brazilian comedian Sabrina Sato performs during the parade of Gavioes da Fiel samba school in Sao Paulo.![brazilseven]()
A dancer performs on the top of a float during the parade of Gavioes da Fiel samba school.![brazilsix]()
Brazilian comedian Sabrina Sato performs for revelers during the parade of Gavioes da Fiel samba school![brazilfive]()
People dance during the Carmelitas street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011. Carmelitas is a band started in 1991 by a group of friends who gathered for soccer and drinks just outside a convent of Carmelite nuns. Jokes about the possibility of nuns escaping to join the party gave rise to the band, which parades twice: once at the beginning of Carnival, when the nuns escape the convent to join the fun, and then on the last day, when they return to their cloistered existence.![brazilfour]()
A reveler laughs during the Carmelitas street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011![brazil one]()
Revelers dressed as nuns smile during the Carmelitas street carnival parade.![brazil two]()
Revelers participate in the Carmelitas street carnival parade.![brazil three]()
A reveler, with his face painted as musical group Kiss member Gene Simons, sticks his tongue out during the Carmelitas street carnival parade.![carnivalfirst]()
A reveler performs during the "Mameludicos Euforicos" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.![carnival8]()
The Banda de Ipanema carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.![carnival9]()
This year, 424 street bands and "blocos," as mobile street parties are called, have registered with the city. Starting several weeks before Carnival, they parade all over town, playing their own songs or traditional Carnival tunes with a following of hundreds or tens of thousands of revelers dancing, drinking, and singing in their wake![carnival10]()
The Banda de Ipanema carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.![carnival5]()
A woman paints Carnival masks at a mask-making factory in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.![carnival4]()
Revelers perform during the "Mameludicos Euforicos" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.![carnival3]()
Rio's carnival celebration officially opens Friday when King Momo, the mythical figure ruling over the chaos, is handed the keys to the city.![carnival]()
In addition to the elaborate two-day samba group parade and the exclusive costumed balls --where wealth revelers spend a lot to wear very little-- Rio's free, open-to-all street Carnival is bigger than ever.![carnival6]()
The Ceu na Terra, or Heaven on Earth, street parade in Rio de Janeiro follows the tracks of a yellow tramcar that transports the Carnival orchestra in the historic Santa Teresa neighborhood.![carnival7]()
The Ceu na Terra or Heaven on Earth street parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Carnival Revelry in Rio de Janeiro
This year the Carnival will draw about 756,000 visitors, spending $559 million.
Move Forward
- Carnival Revelry in Rio de Janeiro
