It's been an interesting lead up to the world's biggest street party -- with a seven-year-old samba queen and crackdown on leud behaviour creating some controversy.
Children's welfare groups had objected to the young girl leading one of Brazil's top samba school in the parade, saying the role was too sexy, but a judge ruled that Julia Lira could take on the role reserved usually for super models and actresses.
Temperatures soaring above 40 didn't seem to deter party goers, with tourists and locals instead basking in the hottest carnival for fifty years.
This year, city officials have been eager to clean-up Rio's image ahead of the 2014 football world cup and the 2016 Olympics.
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Almost 80 people were fined on one night alone for urinating in public, but nothing could spoil the fun of the Carnival.
"It's marvellous. I've never imagined it was like this. It's 11'o'clock in the morning and everybody is drunk already! Everybody is celebrating. Rio is a party town. Impressive!," a reveller said.
The festival has highlighted the need for the city to step up its policing, after a spate of muggings, one of which left one tourist in intensive care.
Whatever the shortage of cash, there was no lack of colour.
Some observers say of the lack of money has actually encouraged designers to come up with their most creative work in years.
