Rio de Janeiro New Year's Eve

Rio de Janeiro New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is Rio de Janeiro's second most popular holiday. Like Carnival, New Year's Eve (or Réveillon) requires advance planning and August is a great time to get started, as that's when several hotels release their New Year's packages.

One of the highlights of Rio de Janeiro Réveillon 2011 was the lauching of the 2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro logo, revealed at the Copacabana celebrations.

Copacabana leads the festivities in Rio. In 2011, the celebration had fireworks lasting over 20 minutes, synchronized to a soundtrack for the first time in the city's history. There were also music shows with Brazilian artists on four stages.

The theme for official celebrations of New Year's Eve 2012 in Rio will be sustainability, according to Riotur, the Rio de Janeiro Tourism Company. The event will call attention to the importance of environmental preservation and the ways people can contribute to build a better planet for the future generations.

Celebrations on Flamengo Beach

Rio de Janeiro will host New Year's Eve 2011 celebrations on Flamengo Beach. The event is expected to attract 400,000 people, according to interviews given to Brazil media by representatives of Flama, the association of Flamengo residents.

Flamengo fireworks are to last 25 minutes - five more than the ones in Copacabana. They will be launched from three barges in Guanabara Bay. São Clemente, one of the samba schools in Rio's Main Carnival Parade in 2011, is the top musical attraction announced so far.

The celebrations in Flamengo are fantastic news for travelers staying in one of the area's hotels - or in other districts of Rio. The Flamengo subway station will be a convenient gateway to the party.

New Year's Eve Parties in Rio de Janeiro

You can ring in 2012 for free on the beach, but for great food, dancing with beautiful people (and perhaps breakfast), choose one of the New Year's Eve parties held at Rio de Janeiro hotels, lounges and other venues. Some Réveillon parties, such as the one at the Copacabana Palace or the Museum of Modern Art, are held every year.

Source: About.com