By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Some of Rio’s pacified favelas are becoming increasingly popular destinations for parties and events, with many featuring breathtaking views of the city coastline. To welcome in 2014 there are two notable favela parties to consider: The New Year’s Favela Party 2014 at Pavão-Pavãozinho and Réveillon at Alto Vidigal.
Offering perhaps the best view of the Copacabana Beach fireworks display in the city, is the event in the Pavão-Pavãozinho favela community. The fourth edition of the New Year’s Eve party will also ring in the new year with DJs playing the best of funk carioca, samba, brasilectro, hip hop and trance.
Organizer Rodrigo Braz Vieira told The Rio Times, “Last year we had around sixty […] This year we’re expecting something around 120 people. But it’s not a party for big crowds.”
Local cuisine including finger foods, snacks, vegetarian selections and gluten free items will be served as well as Caipirinhas, beer, water and soda drinks. Champagne corks will pop at midnight to greet 2014, as revelers take in sixteen minutes of one of the most impressive fireworks displays on the planet.
“It was the greatest party ever, the view over Copacabana and the fireworks was brilliant,” Jenny Otto, a German visitor to a previous New Year’s Favela Party commented on the event’s website. “It was a very pleasant atmosphere. All the people there were lovely and the party was awesome!”
What: New Year’s Favela Party 2014
When: Tuesday, December 31st, 9PM
Where: Pavão-Pavãozinho
Entrance: R$300 per person
Another option is perched atop the Vidigal favela community, with views of Ipanema and Leblon, the re-opened and expanded Alto Vidigal guesthouse has a solid reputation for throwing quality events as they regularly host local and guest DJs.
For their New Year’s Eve celebrations they will ring in 2014 with local and international DJs spinning the best in house, techno house, deep house, funky house and soul.
Rio DJs Chris Rocha and Pedro Piu will provide the house/techno and soul funk respectively while DJ Jody King from the UK will spin house and deep house to kick off the new year.
“Here at Alto Vidigal we don’t just have the best view of any nightspot, but we also boast the best international DJ line-ups and the best party atmosphere,” Jody King told The Rio Times. “Our view includes the Sugar Loaf Mountain, Lagoa, Ipanema, Leblon, over the sea to Niteroi and much more. It will be a great spectacle of fireworks as we will be able to see several massive displays from Alto Vidigal.”
King, who has been a DJ for twelve years and will be responsible for the sunrise set during the event continued; “I am very excited to be DJing at Alto Vidigal for the New Year’s celebrations. I have DJed in some big clubs in England and Spain but DJing at the top of a favela overlooking the entire South Zone of Rio de Janeiro is by far the best DJing experience for me. The people who come are so fun, friendly and so beautiful. Everything about these parties is just beautiful!”
Things are scheduled to begin at Alto Vidigal at around 7PM on December 31st, with tickets for the event ranging from R$100 to R$250 for VIP access.
What: Réveillon at Alto Vidigal
When: Tuesday, December 31st, 7PM
Where: Rua Armando de Almeida Lima – Nº 2 – Arvrão – Vidigal
Entrance: R$100 and R$250 for VIP