If you’ve always wanted to experience a true “Carnaval” atmosphere, without having to leave the Texas Hill Country, plan to attend Austin’s Carnaval Brasileiro on February 10th at the Palmer Events Center (900 Barton Springs Road). Hailed as Austin’s wildest party, Carnaval Brasileiro is the city’s annual Brazilian-style Mardi Gras celebration.
Things to Do
A Taste of Rio at the Austin Carnaval Brasileiro
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The Event Began in the 1970s
Photo: Facebook/CarnavalAtx
Begun in the early 1970s to soothe homesick Brazilian students, Carnaval has grown into a local institution attracting over 5,000 partygoers from all over the United States. The flamboyant (sometimes risque) costumes, the driving Brazilian samba, and the uninhibited, spirited atmosphere have earned Carnaval its reputation as one of the best and biggest such festivities outside Brazil.
Carnaval Brasileiro has now become an Austin institution – one that nobody really planned as such. A small party grew into a giant public bash because there were Brazilians who needed a celebration, local individuals to nurture it along the way, a radio program (Horizontes) to promote its music, a series of bands to play the music, and, above all, enough Austinites who felt the magic and kept coming back for more.
An Austin Institution
Photo: Facebook/CarnavalAtx
Carnaval has emerged and thrived in Austin, because long ago it became a city of open attitudes and spontaneity, due in large part to the university influence. Now that bohemian attitude has mixed with just enough business sense and hard work to make music happen in a way that is attracting attention from around the world. Austin’s Carnaval Brasileiro, described as a peculiar winterfest of flesh and fantasy, was nurtured in that unique semi-cohesive, culture-conscious environment, and still flowers every February.
To learn more, visit the Carnaval Brasileiro website or follow them on Facebook to plan your visit or go HERE to purchase your tickets for Carnaval Brasileiro online.
