There’s always lots to do on the weekend before Carnival. Things started to warm up with Simpatia é Quase Amor taking over the beach lane of Ipanema with almost 15 thousand partiers.

This is the band’s twenty second anniversary, and you still have time to attend the next parade on Carnival Sunday!

At night the Rolling Stones attracted one million and two hundred people from all around the world for the free concert at Praia de Copacabana. Images of the show were broadcast live to Brazil and other countries, this is the largest audience ever to watch the Stones perform.

On Sunday Jardim Botanico was the place to be. The day started with Suvaquinho de Cobra, the children-only band. In the afternoon Suvaco de Cobra marched in full glory, attracting a crowd of 50 thousand that took over Rua Jardim Botanico from the Concentration at Rua Faro all the way to Praca Santos Dumont, in Baixo Gavea. The idea of keeping secret the hour of the parade to attract fewer outsiders backfired. As nobody knew for sure when to arrive, everybody arrived early – and in packs!

Please click on picture to enlarge it.

Please click on picture to enlarge it.