A music band plays at the 'Virtual' street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, March 3, 2011. Brazil's annual street party is expected to draw three-quarters of a million visitors this year.
Revelers perform during the 'Mameludicos Euforicos' street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, March 3, 2011.
A reveler performs during the 'Mameludicos Euforicos' street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, March 3, 2011.
Revelers perform during the 'Mameludicos Euforicos' street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, March 3, 2011.
A DJ controls the sound wirelessly during the 'Mameludicos Euforicos' street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, March 3, 2011.
Revelers perform during the 'Mameludicos Euforicos' street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, March 3, 2011.
Members of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school work on a float during preparations for the carnival parade, at Samba City in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 1, 2011.
A member of Porto da Pedra samba school works on a float that will take part in the carnival parade at the sambodrome next March 6-7, at Samba City in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 1, 2011.
A worker prepares a Carnival float for the Unidos da Tijuca Samba school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 1, 2011.
Workers stand by carnival floats belonging to the Sao Clemente Samba school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 1, 2011.
A worker cleans a carnival float for the Sao Clemente Samba school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 1, 2011.
A dancer performs during the parade of the Vai Vai samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011.
This year's King Momo, the crowned and costumed Milton Rodrigues (center), flanked by the Carnival queen and two princesses, pose for pictures during carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011. Covered in confetti and to the sound of drums, Rio's mayor Eduardo Paes handed the key to the city to King Momo, the mythical figure who reigns over the chaos of Carnival, officially opening this seaside city's five-day annual exaltation of music, booze and flesh.
A dancer performs during the parade of Tom Maior samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011.
Revelers participate in the "Carmelitas" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011. "Carmelitas" is a band started in 1991 by a group of friends who gathered for soccer and drinks just outside a convent of Carmelite nuns. Jokes about the possibility of nuns escaping to join the party gave rise to the band, which parades twice: once at the beginning of Carnival, when the nuns escape the convent to join the fun, and then on the last day, when they return to their cloistered existence.
A reveler laughs during the "Carmelitas" street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011.
A reveler on stilts greets a boy during a ceremony marking the official opening Carnival season in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011.
A dancer performs during the parade of Rosas de Ouro samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011.
Dancers perform during the parade of Unidos do Peruche samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011.
A drummer performs during the parade of the Vai Vai samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, March 5, 2011.
Revelers of the Vai-Vai samba school dance atop a float during the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome, as part of Carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo early on March 5, 2011.
Revelers of Unidos do Peruche samba school sing and dance during the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome, as part of Carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo, Brazil, late on March 4, 2011. Brazil's Carnival kicked off on the eve with millions of people taking to the streets of the northeastern city of Salvador de Bahia to dance and party, effectively putting the nation on a week-long hiatus.
Revelers of Rosas de Ouro samba school perform during the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome, as part of Carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo early on March 5, 2011.
Revelers of Rosas de Ouro samba school sing and dance during the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome, as part of Carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo early on March 5, 2011.
Revelers of Academicos do Tucuruvi samba school perform ahead of drummers during the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome, as part of Carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo early on March 5, 2011.