Pre-Reveillon Parties to New Years

By Felicity Clarke, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After Carnival, Reveillon (or New Year’s Eve), is the biggest party in Rio. Now that the Christmas tree on the Lagoa has been lit, and Santa (or Papa Noel) is decorating stores from one end of the city to the other, it’s time to begin the countdown. While there is no competition for the Ano Novo (New Year) on Copacabana Beach, there is also no shortage of pre-parties to get in the spirit.

Much like the Carnival with it’s weeks-long build up of blocos and samba school rehearsals, Reveillon requires a rave warm up to the all-night New Year’s celebrations and this weekend there are several Pré-Reveillon dance music events in the city and beyond.

In its third year, the Pré-Reveillon do Rio is an event at Clube Botafogo next to Shopping Rio Sul on Saturday, December 11th.

The Carioca line up featuring home-grown dance music Funk Carioca from MC Sapão plus house from Theo Black, hip hop from Tucho and a blend of Rio styles from Kabul. With an open bar and stunning local, the event offers an authentic Rio party to start off the festive season. Tickets cost R$60 for women and R$96 for men.

One of the largest nightclubs in the city, the LGBT venue The Week International in Centro is hosting a Pré-Reveillon party on Friday, December 12th. The event sees the official launch of the Rio House Mafia project pioneered by leading Carioca house DJ Rafael Nazareth along with DJs Marcelo Cic and Leo Janeiro.

The project brings all three DJs together, mixing sounds on the same stage to create a new dancefloor experience. In the smaller room, there’s RnB and hip hop from SouthSide DJs, Carol França and Flavio Xexeo. Tickets are available for R$30 with VIP tickets available for R$60 from ingressocerto.com.

The chic Marina da Glória provides the setting for the Reveillon Celebration Launch Party (Lançamento do Celebration Reveillon) also on Saturday December 11th.

Heading the line-up is São Paulo progressive, electro and house DJ Carlo Dall Anese, supported by Carioca cohorts, in demand Rafael Nazareth, techno DJ Diogo Vaille and electro house and techno DJ Alan Pinheiro. Tickets available for R$48 for women and R$72 for men from ingresso.com.

Along the coast in the beautiful beach town of Búzios, Rio de Janeiro’s branch of international superclub Pacha is hosting a Pré-Reveillon party on Saturday, December 11th as well.

The highlight of the line-up is female duo Cherry Ladies comprised of house DJ Dot Larissa and vocalist Juliana Barbosa who together create a uniquely sophisticated dance music experience. The line up also features house DJs Juliano Julo, Bernardo Malta and resident Luca di Napoli. In the Sweet area, French DJ Christian K will play his famous ‘Black Chic’ set. Tickets cost R$60 for women and R$120 for men and includes open bar all night.

All this is happening three weeks before the end of the year, but with Rio’s summer heat picking up and the high season kicking in, there’s no reason not to start celebrating now.