While living in Austin we decided to throw some money on the table and attend the yearly Carnaval celebration. The event touted itself as "One of the Biggest Carnaval Celebrations Outside of Brazil" and since we had no upcoming plans to attend the real deal in Brazil we figured it would be interesting to get a feel for it in Austin. The Brazilian style Mardi Gras party was held at the Palmer Events center, just across the Lady Bird Town Lake from downtown Austin. We really had no idea what to expect, as the only Mardi Gras style events we've been to before are house parties and downtown street festivals (both rated PG at most). Well, by the end of the night I'd seen more breasts than at the YMCA locker room and I was thoroughly impressed with everyone's costumes!
Carnaval Brasileiro in Austin, TX
The tickets were pricey ($38 a person, which included only admission). There was a coat check offered for $3 (which was really a god-send because without the coat check you're left with only two options: wear your frumpy coat over your beautiful costume all night or risk frozen limbs on the way between your car and the front doors). We bought our tickets at one of the local music stores and while in line I asked the cashier if she knew anything about it. "Will it be fun?" I asked. She answered that she hadn't been before, but that the gentleman who'd purchased his tickets before us bragged about stocking up on mushrooms just for this occasion.
Oh.
Being the "I'll just stick to alcohol" type of gal that I am, this response kind of caught me off guard. Yes, I get that it's Carnaval, I'm not naive, but its a public event in a public event center...children were welcome to come! As for costumes, we checked beforehand online and the FAQ section stated that about 40% of folks typically come not dressed in costume, but that costumes were encouraged, to help one "get more in the mood". We opted to skip out this time and instead just wore the most brightly colored, Brazilian themed clothing we could find in our closet. There was no food to be provided at the event, but alcohol would be available, so we ate a full dinner at home and then made our way to the event center right as the music was starting, around 9 pm.
Carnaval turned out to be one huge dance party within the metal walls of the event center. There was a stage at the front and music played non stop throughout the night until 2 am. When we arrived the percussion section of the Austin High School band was accompanying the Austin Samba school students in a large Samba dance demonstration on the dance floor. This might sound a bit lame, but it was actually very cool. There were probably 100 dancers in all and they were all in gorgeous sequined dance outfits with tall feather headpieces.
The rest of the evening was filled with upbeat Samba beats from Beleza Brazil, a band flown in from Brazil. During the night though I couldn't get over the fact that we were inside a metal building, much reminiscent of a high school gym. It all kind of felt like a huge, flamboyant and crazy high school dance for adults. The Carnaval would probably have been at least twice better if it had been held in a different venue.
The stage inside the Palmer Events Center
Samba dance demonstration
Awesome costumes!
Beleza Brazil, a Samba band from Brazil
The crowd watching the show
The costumes! The costumes were amazing. I would say that the website's estimate of only 60% of folks wearing costumes was way off. I would say that at least 90% of people wore some type of costume. From that 90%, I would say half of them wore the beautiful, intricate and colorful costumes I imagine they wear in the parade of the real Brazilian Carnaval. Think tall head pieces made of feathers, lots of body glitter, lots of taught bellys, bellowing skirts of many layers and many colors.
Beautiful birds
Colorful!
Jellyfish men (their costumes glowed in the dark!)
Bollywood dancer
Pirate and Bird of Paradise
The remaining half of that 90% wore what I imagine they normally wear in the privacy of their bedrooms. There were thongs, tiny bras, transparent negligees, lots of outfits straight from Victoria's Secret, and even more serious outfits with dog collars, gag balls, leather, chains and whips. The thongs and negligees were on both sexes, as well as the S&M outfits. And then, then there were the breasts. Some ladies opted just to put their girls out for display, while others modestly displayed them under layers of body paint. Some gals glued on tassels and pasties, and others wore suspenders over their shoulders. There was even a body paint station, in case you didn't have any body paint of your own at home, or if you grew the balls to show off your tatas sometime through out the night.
Showgirls
A painted jester
Mirrors!
Meow!
It was all very, very interesting and entertaining. I would say I got the most value out of my admission ticket from all the people watching I got to do. We spent most of the evening just wondering in the crowd, checking out the different costumes and get-ups. There were so many different types of people there, of all ages and all backgrounds. I asked to take pictures and everyone was always super nice and had no qualms with me capturing them in their outfit (or lack of thereof). We did see several parties lighting up pot joints in the darker corners of the hall, but aside from that it mostly seemed like just good, clean fun (lubed up with yummy cocktails made at the stocked bar, also found in the darker corners of the hall).
Me and a peacock
Overall, I have to say this wasn't quite my cup of tea, but it was definitely worth going just to see it for myself. I would be surprised if the level of costumes is much different at the real Carnaval and I feel like we got a pretty good representation of the real deal in Brazil (minus the high school cafeteria feel).
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