BRAZIL’S Carnival 2013 filled the streets with a riot of colour and music this weekend as Rio de Janeiro proves its reputation as one of the world’s best party cities.
There had been a subdued start to the festivities in the wake of a nightclub fire which claimed the lives of 238 people.
The annual extravaganza sees dance schools parade through the streets in scanty outfits as they battle to be crowned Queen of the Carnival in front of cheering crowds and a TV audience of millions.
The carnival, which is expected to attract 1.1million tourists to the city, runs until Tuesday.
-
A dancer from the Nene da Vila Matilde samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Drum queen Lucilene Caetano, from Inocentes de Belford Roxo samba school, dances during carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
Dancers from the Dragoes da Real samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
A performer from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school parades on a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro
-
Performers from the Portela samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro
-
Dancers from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school perform on a float during a Carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
A reveler holds a frame depicting a front page of National Geographic magazine during "Ceu na Terra" block carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
Performers from the Uniao da Ilha do Governador samba school participate in the carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro
-
A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Addison Moran, 7, yells for beads and trinket from the shoulders of her father Paul Moran during the Krewe of Bacchus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans
-
A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Performers from the Uniao da Ilha do Governador samba school participate in the carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
Performers from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
A performer from the Academicos do Salgueiro samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
Performers from the Uniao da Ilha do Governador school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
A dancer from the Imperio de Casa Verde samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Drum queen Bruna Bruno, from Uniao da Ilha do Governador samba school, dances during carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
A dancer from the Nene da Vila Matilde samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Performers from the Academicos do Salgueiro samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
A performer from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school participates in the carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro
-
A dancer performs during Inocentes de Belford Roxo samba school parade at the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
A dancer from the Imperio de Casa Verde samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Performers from the Inocentes de Belford Roxo samba school parade on a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
A performer from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school sings on a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro
-
A dancer from the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
A dancer from the Mancha Verde samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Performers from the Uniao da Ilha do Governador samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
Dancers from the Nene da Vila Matilde samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Drummers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil
-
Performers from the Portela samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro
-
A performer from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school dances during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro
-
Performers from the Uniao da Ilha do Governador school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
-
Revelers pack the streets during the "Cordao da Bola Preta" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
