Rio de Janeiro’s mayor has opened the seaside city’s raucous Carnival, the self-billed biggest party on the planet and Brazil’s last big bash before it hosts this year’s World Cup football tournament.
Amid pounding drums and sequined-laden dancers, Mayor Eduardo Paes handed the keys to the city to King Momo, the mythical jester who reigns over the extravaganza.
Through Ash Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of merrymakers will take to Rio’s streets in the nearly 500 open-air “bloco” parties. The most traditional of these bashes is expected to attract more than 1 million people to Rio’s center area on Saturday.
Rio’s tourism officials project that 918,000 tourists will descend on the city for Carnival. That’s expected to inject more than $730 million into the local economy.
Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Eduardo Paes (C) celebrates with the Queen (L) and the Princess of Carnival the Official Opening Ceremony of Rio de Janeiro’s 2014 Carnival at Cidade Palace on February 28, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Carnival King Wilson Neto poses with the key to the city during the handing over of the ceremonial key to the city at Cidade Palace on February 28, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Eduardo Paes (3R) hands over the ceremonial key to the city to the Rei Momo Wilson Neto (C) during the Official Opening Ceremony of Rio de Janeiro’s 2014 Carnival at Cidade Palace on February 28, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Dancers from last year’s winner Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school perform during the official opening of the world famous Rio’s carnival, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 28, 2014, kicking off five days of nonstop partying in the so-called Marvelous City. (YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)
Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Eduardo Paes (C) celebrates with the the Princess of Carnival the Official Opening Ceremony of Rio de Janeiro’s 2014 Carnival at Cidade Palace on February 28, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
BONUS: And photos from 2013
Revellers of Vai-vai samba school perform during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013. (Photo Credit: NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)Revellers take part in the ‘Cordao do Bola Preta’ traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 9, 2013. Carnival was under way in Rio on Saturday with millions set to take to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party. Nearly 800,000 Brazilian and foreign tourists were expected join Rio’s six million residents in the celebrations, whose climax comes on Sunday and Monday with the city’s top samba schools putting on their extravagant processions led by sexy dancing queens. (Photo Credit: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)A dancer from the X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)A couple dressed as clowns participate in the “Cordao da Bola Preta” street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio’s tourism office, Rio’s street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (Photo Credit: AP/Felipe Dana)A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)An impersonator of US Presidente Barack Obama takes part in the ‘Cordao do Bola Preta’ traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 9, 2013. Carnival was under way in Rio on Saturday with millions set to take to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party. Nearly 800,000 Brazilian and foreign tourists were expected join Rio’s six million residents in the celebrations, whose climax comes on Sunday and Monday with the city’s top samba schools putting on their extravagant processions led by sexy dancing queens. (Photo Credit: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)A pregnant dancer from the X-9 Paulistana samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)Revelers in costumes meant to resemble a military tank, one pointing a toy gun and another wearing a mask in the likeness of Osama bin Laden, perform during the “Ceu na Terra” block carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio’s tourism office, Rio’s street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (Photo Credit:AP/Silvia Izquierdo)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, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio’s tourism office, Rio’s street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (Photo Credit: AP/Silvia Izquierdo)Revellers — one (C) in a Michael Jackson costume — take part in the ‘Cordao do Bola Preta’ traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 9, 2013. Carnival was under way in Rio on Saturday with millions set to take to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party. Nearly 800,000 Brazilian and foreign tourists were expected join Rio’s six million residents in the celebrations, whose climax comes on Sunday and Monday with the city’s top samba schools putting on their extravagant processions led by sexy dancing queens. (Photo Credit: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)Dancers from the Dragoes da Real samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit:AP/Andre Penner)Revelers dressed as arcade character Mario Bros dance during the “Cordao da Bola Preta” street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio’s tourism office, Rio’s street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (Photo Credit: AP/Felipe Dana)Dancers from the Dragoes da Real samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)Revelers dressed as cat-woman joke as they pose for photos during the “Cordao da Bola Preta” street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio’s tourism office, Rio’s street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (Photo Credit: AP/Felipe Dana)A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Credit: AP/Andre Penner)A man dressed as Argentina’s soccer player Lionel Messi, right, participates of the “Ceu na Terra” block carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio’s tourism office, Rio’s street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (Photo Credit: AP/Silvia Izquierdo)Children from the Vai-Vai samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)A dancer from the Vai-Vai samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)Drummers from the Mancha Verde samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: AP/Andre Penner)A reveller of Academicos do Tatuape samba school performs performs atop a float during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 08, 2013. (Photo Credit: NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)Revellers take part in the ‘Cordao do Bola Preta’ traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 9, 2013. Carnival was under way in Rio on Saturday with millions set to take to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party. Nearly 800,000 Brazilian and foreign tourists were expected join Rio’s six million residents in the celebrations, whose climax comes on Sunday and Monday with the city’s top samba schools putting on their extravagant processions led by sexy dancing queens. (Photo Credit: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)Revellers of Vai-vai samba school perform during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013. (Photo Credit: NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)A reveller of Vai-vai samba school performs during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013. (Photo Credit: NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)Revellers of X-9 Paulistana samba school perform atop a float during the first night of Carnival parades at Sao Paulo on February 09, 2013. (Photo Credit: NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)Revellers take part in the ‘Cordao do Bola Preta’ traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 9, 2013. Carnival was under way in Rio on Saturday with millions set to take to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party. Nearly 800,000 Brazilian and foreign tourists were expected join Rio’s six million residents in the celebrations, whose climax comes on Sunday and Monday with the city’s top samba schools putting on their extravagant processions led by sexy dancing queens. (Photo Credit: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)Revellers take part in the ‘Cordao do Bola Preta’ traditional carnival band parade along Rio Branco avenue, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 9, 2013. Carnival was under way in Rio on Saturday with millions set to take to the streets for days of rowdy, joyous parades and festivities, bringing the nation to a halt for its annual wild party. Nearly 800,000 Brazilian and foreign tourists were expected join Rio’s six million residents in the celebrations, whose climax comes on Sunday and Monday with the city’s top samba schools putting on their extravagant processions led by sexy dancing queens (Photo Credit: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)A reveller from Academicos do Tatuape samba school performs during the first night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo,Brazil, on February 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)A reveler poses for photos during the “Cordao da Bola Preta” street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. According to Rio’s tourism office, Rio’s street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. (Photo Credit: AP/Felipe Dana)
