This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Rio De Janeiro • Carnival revelers are packing streets across Brazil for raucous open-air parties that begin at daybreak and pulse through the night.
But attention is now turning to the sequin-drenched samba group parades set to begin in Rio de Janeiro.
The nightlong parades will see six samba groups showing off both Sunday and Monday nights, with powerful percussion sections, elaborate floats and more than 2,500 participants in each parade, which last about an hour.
Millions of Brazilians watch the parades live on TV and root for their favorite samba groups with a passion rivaled only by the allegiances held to football teams.
Forty judges take part and the groups are judged in 10 categories, from the quality of the drum sections to the beauty of costumes.