The Rio Samba Parade is the review of and actually a fierce competition in between the Rio samba schools. The judges and spectators watch the principal parades in the Sambodromo which was especially built for this event. See how it is judged

The Samba Parade is something everybody has to experience at least once in life. The event is broadcast live to several countries. Watching on TV is cool but not half as much fun as being there. You have to mingle with the crowd, watch the Brazilians and Cariocas (the people of Rio) and for the best and real experience even march with a samba school.

The Rio Samba Parade is really distinctive from all other street parades held at some other places of the world. It started as other street festivities, groups of people parading through the streets playing music and dancing. The paraders would cross-dress over sexual and social roles. However, the Carnival parades in Rio developed into something special, a competion between the samba schools. The main competion was originally held downtown. Until the mid-1980s bleachers for the spectators were assembled and disassembled every year on Av. Presidente Vargas, one of Rio's major arteries. Then the principal parades were moved to the Sambodromo, especially built for this event.