”Pre Carnaval in Olinda & Recife“

Hi from Olinda

To set straight all the disinformation about the carnaval dates in Recife and Olinda: there is a pre-carnaval at 10 in the morning on the Sunday a week before the carnaval. In Olinda there is a parade of the ``Virgens do Bairro Novo``, which is a parade and costume contest of drag queens, with trio electricos (trucks that play loud music) and people following them and dancing to the music. I was there and I recommend it very much.

At the same time in Boa Viagem (the beach in the south of Recife) there is a parade of Bloco Parceria, which is also trio electrico. I wasn´t there so I can´t say how good it is.

On the week before the carnaval, between the pre carnaval Sunday and the opening of the carnaval on the next Saturday morning, there are no activities during the day. In the evenings there are bands called blocos marching in the streets, dressed in costums and playing music, and people follow them and dance.