fundamental to the celebrations are the imaginative costumes used by the participants of the carnival, which stun visitors and leave a lasting impression on those in attendance - different types of costumes are used for the different variations of parties that take place throughout carnival.

one thing that remains the same is their name of fantasias, which translates as 'fantasies' - they are known as fantasies, as they are said to temporarily facilitate the living of a different life, role, or position.

the majority of the costumes are made using breathtakingly intricate techniques, combined with a lot of patience and hard work - their historical roots can be traced back to old european traditions, blended with african and indigenous culture.