Rio Gets Party Started at Dawn

Carnival's biggest bash took to the streets at dawn today, proving that if there is one thing citizens of Rio de Janeiro take seriously, it's partying. Organizers expected up to 1 million people at the Bola Preta street party, or "bloco"—one of Rio's oldest. Dressed in black and white, revelers lustily sang along to traditional Carnival songs like Rio's anthem, "The Marvelous City."

In Salvador, which battles Rio each year for bragging rights to the nation's wildest Carnival, police said thousands had simply collapsed in public plazas to catch a few hours of sleep after partying all night. But it's Rio's massive fest that draws the most attention—Madonna, Beyonce, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton were all expected to watch as Rio's samba parades begin tomorrow night.
(More Carnival stories.)