Carnival Brazil 2006
One of the traditional highlights of carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the parade of the top samba schools which take place on the Sunday and Monday nights of carnival along the purpose built Passarela do Samba (Sambódromo), located on Avenida Marques de Sapucaí, close to the city
centre. The winners’ parade, featuring the top samba schools from all the divisions, will take place on the following Saturday ( February in 2006).
Carnival, which takes place throughout Brazil, is a moveable feast that is tied to the religious Calendar.
It is a traditional pre-Lenten celebration which ends on Ash Wednesday.
The Carnival parades begin on Friday evening with the lesser groups. These are usually groups that have been formed in recent years that are working their way up the hierarchy. Saturday night is for Grupo A, the groups trying to get into the top division, and the climax is reached on Sunday and Monday nights when the 14 groups in the Special Group parade, 7 each night, each for 80 minutes.