The latter goes on from dawn to dusk, features free-flowing food and drink, and often finishes up on the beach.
Expect 10 days of kaleidoscopic parades, non-stop samba dancing, throbbing drum beats, and ornate costumes and floats. There are three parts to the celebrations: paid-for parades, paid-for balls (where guests compete for the most extravagant costumes), and free street parties. The latter goes on from dawn to dusk, features free-flowing food and drink, and often finishes up on the beach.