Carnaval Brasileiro

you like to wear costumes?  

you like drums and shaking your body parts?

you like exposing your body parts or looking at exposed parts?

you like art painted on your body parts or like to look at art ON bodies?

what about the costumes (so relevant I mentioned it 2x)

if you said yes to any 4 of the above, get the self to Carnaval Brasleiro

I went to Carnaval for the first time in 2005, when I first moved here, and I just went this year for my second time.  And WOW, it was definitely a lot more crowded (which I expected).

While there's no denying that Carnaval is a blast, I think it is extremely expensive for what you get.  I had luckily won tix this year, but I most likely would've felt pretty ripped off if I'd paid $40 to stand in long bathroom lines, barely get to see most of the dance performances (because they're on the floor and you must battle through throngs of people to try to get a glimpse), and paid for pricey drinks once I arrived (which I did do, but wasn't nearly as big of a deal since my tix were free!)  At least coat check is only a mere $3.00.

Oh-- and this year they ran out of water!!!  There was still over an hour left and absolutely none of the bars had water left!  All the bartenders kept trying to hawk more alcohol on us instead. Ummmmmm....???

I think that, if tickets are going to be $40, the event should at least last longer.  It goes til 2am (when the light are abruptly flipped on), but the place was still filled with a ton of people dancing while performances were still finishing up.  If they stopped serving alcohol and kept it open for 2 more hours (maybe just turn it into a DJ'ed dance party??) it would not only be more fun and worth the price tag, but probably a lot more safe than kicking a bunch of half-naked, liquored-up people out onto the streets...

Have gone for the last 5 years.  never drank anything but water and it has been a super awesome time.  so enjoy seeing people's creativity and costumes.  great show, great music, everyone's in a great mood, everyone is so gracious in posing for pictures.  would recommend to anyone at least once.  if costuming is not your thang, don't despair!  lots of tshirts and shorts/pants & beads...   though if you're feeling adventurous Lucy in Disguise on soco rents out costumes for the night, other places to hit up for ideas are the Bazaar Austin, Cindie's  and costume world on north Burnet.    it's mardi gras Brazilian style!  part lingerie show, part masquerade, part halloween, part whatevah!  anything goes!  body paint artists on site !  monies at coach check goes toward camps for at-risk kids.  all around superlative!