Ticket Sales Opening for Carnival 2012: Daily

By Sarah de Sainte Croix, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – It was announced yesterday that sales of private boxes (the Camarotes) at Rio’s Sambódromo for the 2012 official Carnival parades will take place next Wednesday 9th November. The luxury boxes are fully enclosed and can accommodate between twelve and thirty spectators depending on size and location. Prices range from R$20,000 to R$114,000.

In order to limit ticket touting the organizers are only accepting orders placed by fax between 9AM and 2PM on the day, on a first-come-first-served basis. As in previous years, they are expecting all of the boxes to be sold out within the first few hours.

Sales of second grade private boxes known as Frisas, which seat either four or six, will open on December 1st with prices ranging from R$900 to R$6,600 per day.

Those hoping to purchase individual seats, however, will have to wait until the beginning of January next year (exact date to be confirmed) and can expect to pay between R$10 to R$550 for a day in the Arquibancadas, depending on location and view.

That does not include the weekend after the official Carnival when the Champions parade happens, and prices are slightly lower.

Carnival in Rio, considered by many to be the world’s biggest and best celebration, is not just about the spectacular samba parade at Sambódromo though. A huge part of Carnival is the blocos (block parties), which are very popular, and free.

Read more (in Portuguese) at the LIESA (League of Independent Samba Schools) website.

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