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New Year's Eve Celebrations in Rio de Janeiro

Renuka Savant
Home to the biggest, wildest celebrations in the world, Rio de Janeiro's vibrant energy is so pulsating, it just takes a few moments to get swept into party mode. New Year's Eve in Rio is the only event that rivals the heat and frenzy of the Carnival. Read on to know more.
Copacabana beach is one of the biggest New Year Party destinations in the world.
Brazilians prefer to welcome the New Year dressed in white, a color they feel symbolizes new beginnings.
Copacabana Beach is the epicenter of activities on December 31st, every year.
Live music performances start at around 8 p.m., and play everything from Brazilian folk music to international hits. People begin to gather around as early as 3 p.m., and by midnight, the entire area is jam-packed.
A spectacular show of fireworks commences at midnight, and goes on for approximately 20 minutes. Besides the party on the shore, there are a lot of cruise ships that line up to view the firework blitzkrieg.

Where to Party

Revelers coming to Copacabana have a few options when it comes to partying; here's a little bit on how to plan a New Year's Eve party in Rio de Janeiro.
You may choose to simply stay on the beach; but be warned that it gets insanely crowded as the evening progresses. You find a lot of people jostling for space, with most of them being rather tipsy.
It is advisable that you head to the beach sans any valuables, and the least possible amount of cash. The lanes leading up to Copacabana are closed to vehicular traffic on New Year's Eve. These bylanes offer a nice viewing spot if you wish to enjoy the fireworks display.
The Copacabana-Ipanema stretch is lined with several hotels that offer rooms which have a fabulous view of the beach.
Of course, most of these rooms get snapped up in advance; or are up for grabs at the last minute, provided you have a massive amount to shell out.
Assuming you've sensibly booked such a room in advance, you can simply relax, put your feet up, and enjoy the awesomeness from the plush comforts of your room.
Several hotels also host in-house parties, possibly on a deck that overlooks the beach. These parties may at times only be open to patrons who're staying at the said hotel; otherwise, they may be open to all. Entry passes to most of these parties are put up for sale almost a month in advance, so if you're interested, keep an eye out for these.
Copacabana Palace Hotel | Avenida Atlantica 1702, Rio de Janeiro or Pestana Rio Atlantica Hotel | Avenida Atlantica 2964 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro or JW Marriott Hotel | Avenida Atlantica 2600 Praia de Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

Véspera de Ano Novo, Rio-style

Yes, it means "New Year's Eve, Rio-style". Here we tell you a little bit about the way Brazilians like to celebrate the beginning of the new year.
Traditionally people dress in the color white while welcoming the new year. So, you'll find a sea of whites on Copacabana's shores.
You can include a sliver of color. Red is for romance, yellow indicates success, whereas green stands for good health. Donning the eternal party color, black, is a strict no-no.
Don't wear anything too precious or expensive when you're heading to the beach, as there are high chances of people getting doused in champagne that frequently gets splashed around.
Carrying a bottle of champagne is almost a given on New Year's Eve. Brazilians like to ring in the new year with a grand toast―and champagne is the drink of celebrations.
Splashing champagne is fairly common, so do pay heed to the word of advice mentioned here.

Bring in the New Year in Rio

The party in Rio goes on until the wee hours of the morning, just that it shifts base from the beach to all of Rio's numerous nightclubs. So, if you wish to welcome the new year in style, Rio de Janeiro is where you should be heading.