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Jeronimo Gonzalez
Jeronimo Gonzalez
Feb 20, 2023, 7:44am EST
South America

Photo highlights from the first day of Rio's Carnival

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The News

Rio’s famously colorful Carnival kicked off on Sunday, the first time since 2020 that the week-long celebration is being held without COVID-19-related restrictions.

“The Carnival is the face of Brazilian culture,” a minister told Folha. “It gathers all our cultural expressions, it’s a beautiful thing.

Some 2 million people are expected to attend the festivities where they’re forecast to spend a record $1 billion in Rio’s businesses.

REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
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The Photos

1. Revellers at a block party in Rio before the start of the Carnival

REUTERS/Aline Massuca
REUTERS/Aline Massuca

2. Dancers prepare for their show

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REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

3. The 'Sambadrome' in Rio where the Carnival takes place

REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

4. The Mangueira samba school

REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
Revellers from Mangueira samba school perform during the first night of the carnival. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

5. Zeca Pagodinho sings with the Rio Grande school

REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

6. Unidos da Tijuca samba school

REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

7. The Salgueiro samba school with an angels and dragons theme

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REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

8. Brazilian celebrities in attendance

Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen (middle) watches on. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

9. Grande Rio samba school with a market-inspired show

REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

10. The Sambadrome's cleaning staff march through

REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
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