Olinda
Everyone dons a costume for the 11 days and nights of Olinda's Carnaval, held over Easter. Balls, nights of samba, Afro-Brazillian rhythms and plenty of street-style merriment characterize the festas (party). Everything else happens in impromptu fashion on the streets. The official opening commences with a parade of 400 'virgins' (men in drag) and awards for the most beautiful, most risqué and the biggest prude.