Sambadrome

Carnaval in Rio mostly took place at private balls and at the Sambódromo ( "Sambadrome") with the spectacular samba-school parades.

The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Chris McGowan 2010

Designed by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer, the Sambódromo ( "Sambadrome") is a seven-hundred-meter-long pathway flanked by concrete stands that seat ninety thousand people.

The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Chris McGowan 2010

Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press Grande Rio samba school dancers performed in a parade through the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro Tuesday.

Fat Tuesday Festivities 2011

Rodrigo Abd/Associated Press A member of the Salgueiro samba school paraded in the Sambadrome during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.

Fat Tuesday Festivities 2011

Felipe Dana/Associated Press Dancers from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school performed during a Carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday.

Photos of the Day 2011

Martin Mejia/Associated Press Mangueira samba school members paraded down the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

Carnival Comes to a Close 2010

The samba schools had on their FULL costumes — we even saw all the ENORMOUS floats, mostly wrapped up to protect them from the rain, but making their way to the Sambadrome.

Brazil in Color! Kate Fleurange 2008

It showed a close-up of Ben and me at the Sambadrome that could only have been taken with a serious zoom.

Elixir Hilary Duff 2010

There was extra dust at the Sambadrome straight because officials had to add grooves to the concrete surface overnight after drivers complained that the track was too slippery and unsafe.

Marco Andretti Crash: Driver Survives Shocking Collision (VIDEO) 2010

Felipe Dana/Associated Press Decked out in feathers and body glitter, a member of the Mangueira samba school struck a pose on a float at the Sambadrome parade area in Rio de Janeiro.

Carnival Comes to a Close 2010