Rio Carnival 2017: Everything you need to know

The Rio Carnival is now less than a week away and many people in Brazil are already getting started with the festivities.

The brightly coloured parade is considered one of the biggest in the world, with around 2 million people attending each year.

Bright, extravagant costumes and endless samba dancing has made it a tourist hot-spot for those looking for a non-stop party.

What is the Rio Carnival?

The festival starts on a Friday each year and finishes on Ash Wednesday, which is when Lent begins.

When is the Rio Carnival 2017?

This year, the Rio Carnival will start on Friday 24th February and will end on Wednesday 1st March.

However, many locals have already begun the celebration with some taking to the streets with pre-festival parties.

A winners parade will also take place after the Carnival on Saturday 4th March, and will celebrate the samba school winners.

Where is the Rio Carnival taking place?

As the name suggests, the festival takes place in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

A majority of the celebrations take place in the Sambadrome, which also hosts the Samba Parade.

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2017/02/21/when-is-the-rio-carnival-2017-everything-you-need-to-know-6457956/