throughout the final 3-week period leading up to the main carnival events, all samba schools hold special gathering, samba dances, and rehearsals both at their headquarters and at the sambódromo - these side events are worth attending especially for visitors not in rio for the actual carnival celebrations.

in fact, The greatest feast in the Brazilian culture and one of the biggest in the world does not 'just' happen - There are hundreds and hundreds of hours of preparation and planning before the amazing ensemble flaunts down the sambódromo during carnival.

The rehearsals take place in the same stadium home to the main parades, beginning in in december and extending until the beginning of carnival, when all the sound and lightning of the real show will be implemented.