http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Carnival-hasn-t-started-but-Rio-is-already-10957040.php
Revelers get an early start on Rio's Carnival
Updated 2:26 pm, Saturday, February 25, 2017
Thousands of revelers took part in colorful street parties in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday ahead of the famous Carnival.
Media: MediaOS VideoCarnival officially kicks off tonight in Rio de Janeiro, but the festivities have already started.
Thursday night at the "LED is my Light" parade, revelers took to the streets to celebration the annual event, though Carnival traditionally begins the Friday before Ash Wednesday.
The largest parades at the Sambódromo take place Sunday and Monday but pre-Carnival festivities have been taking place for a least a week in Brazil. The dogs are even getting in on the fun.
Revelers celebrate at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today and revelers took over an underpass in the city to dance. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers celebrate at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today and revelers
... moreRevelers play music at a pre-Carnival 'bloco', or street party, on February 23, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins tomorrow. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers play music at a pre-Carnival 'bloco', or street party, on February 23, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins tomorrow. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have
... moreRevelers gather at a pre-Carnival 'bloco', or street party, on February 23, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins tomorrow. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers gather at a pre-Carnival 'bloco', or street party, on February 23, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins tomorrow. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled
... moreRevelers pose at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers pose at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and
... moreRevelers celebrate at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today and revelers took over an underpass in the city to dance. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers celebrate at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today and revelers
... moreRevelers celebrate at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today and revelers took over an underpass in the city to dance. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers celebrate at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today and revelers
... moreRevelers clown around and pose at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers clown around and pose at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up
... moreRevelers kiss at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers kiss at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and
... moreRevelers laugh while posing at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers laugh while posing at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to
... moreRevelers walk past men who were sleeping on the street at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers walk past men who were sleeping on the street at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival
... moreRevelers prepare to attend the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers prepare to attend the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70
... moreA reveler hangs on a lightpole at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessA reveler hangs on a lightpole at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up
... moreRevelers kiss at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers kiss at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and
... moreRevelers celebrate at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today and revelers took over an underpass in the city to dance. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers celebrate at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today and revelers
... moreRevelers embrace at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers embrace at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities
... moreRevelers dance at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers dance at the 'LED is My Light' street party in the early morning hours at the beginning of Carnival on February 24, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins today. Up to 70 cities and
... moreRevelers dance at a pre-Carnival 'bloco', or street party, on February 23, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins tomorrow. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled festivities for Carnival this year amidst a severe recession in the country.
lessRevelers dance at a pre-Carnival 'bloco', or street party, on February 23, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Carnival officially begins tomorrow. Up to 70 cities and towns in Brazil are believed to have canceled
... more
This year not everyone may join in the fun. It's unclear if Rio's new mayor Marcelo Crivella, a retired Pentecostal bishop, will attended.
"Not showing up for Carnival doesn't seem like a smart thing to do," said Bernardo Mello Franco, columnist for the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo as reported by the Associated Press. "It's not like he would have to hug a half-naked woman. His function is simply one of protocol."
Brazil's deepening economic crisis is not helping matters either. Dozens of cites and towns around the country have reportedly canceled their official Carnival events over financial and security concerns.
