A Natal Carnival Like No Other – A Brazilian Carnival with Solitude

The Natal Carnival is unlike other Brazilian cities that have enormous carnivals each year for thousands of people to attend, the Natal Carnival is… well, very small and very subdued. Although the local government is making attempts to promote the carnival de Natal as another tourist attraction, it is still quite small compared to many other cities.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however! Since Natal is not really known for having a large carnival, the Natal carnival tends to be quieter, more subdued, and with far fewer crowds. For visitors who aren’t really sure about everything the carnival in Rio de Janeiro has to offer, the carnival de Natal is a perfect introduction to Brazilian carnival culture.

The Natal Carnival tends to happen around late February/early March, and is a time of dancing, eating, drinking, and all around good times! However, in the larger cities, this often means that many of the major streets are blocked off, making it difficult to travel around. Not so in Natal! Natal’s carnival offerings are typically much smaller, and the parties – as opposed to the Carnival events – are held on the beaches, to avoid congestion and large crowds within the city.

Natal Carnival has many similar things to offer as the larger carnivals, such as: concert bands, dramatic performances, multicultural dances, displays of food, and costume parties. Typically, one day of the Carnival is dedicated to children, and there will be events held throughout the daytime hours for the young ones to enjoy themselves safely.

One popular element of a Brazilian Carnival is the Trio Electrico. These are large trucks that drive through the streets, each one devoted to a certain band, playing music and inciting people to sing and dance. Revelers will follow the trucks through the crowded streets, and pay money to wear the bands’ shirts and dance in their truck. While the Natal Carnival doesn’t have quite as elaborate Trio Electrico, there are still a few smaller trucks with reggae and rock music that may make their way through the streets during a Carnival.

While it may have a quiet carnival, there are a number of reputable Natal samba schools that put on parades during carnival time. These parades will start at 8pm at night and carry through until 2am, for three nights of each week! Each evening presents 8 different schools, and at the end of the Carnival, a winner is announced by a panel of judges.

The Natal Carnival is much safer than the larger carnivals, especially for a visitor to Brazil who isn’t entirely familiar with carnival culture. Also, the Natal Carnival is free to participate in and watch, unlike many events at the larger cities. If you’re looking to experience a Brazilian carnival that won’t disrupt the rest of your vacation – and won’t keep you awake all night from the noise in the streets – it’s worthwhile paying a visit to Natal during carnival season!

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