Here is the highlight of Rio Official Carnival: the 4 days Parade at the Sambadrome. It is a furious competition among Samba Schools, with 3/5.000 people parading and 90.000 watching. 90 minutes is the time granted to each Samba School to complete the parade. Each school lines up 8 floats, several sections afoot (each composed of 100 people with the same costume) and, of course, a band playing original music. Each school chooses a theme: can be an animal, a famous personality or an historic event. Costumes, floats, music and choreography: everything needs to be related to the main theme. Each school will be judged by a jury of 40 experts under several respects: percussion band, samba song, harmony, flow and spirit of the participants, theme of the year, overall impression, floats and props, costumes, vanguard group, the flag carrying couple.

The parades start at 8/9.00 pm and end at 5.00 in the morning.