Before Mardi Gras in New Orleans there was (and still is) the greatest party on earth: the Carnival in Rio. Dating back to 1723, Carnaval (Portuguese spelling) is the festival held four days before the Roman Catholic holiday of Lent, which is traditionally a time of prayer as well as abstinence from meat consumption in preparation for Easter and the resurrection.

Oh, and it's also a time to party as people from all over the world head to Rio de Janeiro to celebrate and witness the festivities. Beginning 4 days before Ash Wednesday, Carnival starts on a Saturday. The next three carnival dates are:

2010: February 13th
2011: March 5th
2012: February 18th

So, what's so special about Carnival?

There's something for everyone.  While at Carnival, you can:

1, Watch the parades. The main event is the Samba Parade and you’ll have to buy tickets in advance. Tickets for the Sambadromo range from just over $500 to around $100 depending on where you’re seated. If you want box tickets, be prepared to cough up about $1500. Luxury seat tickets come in around $1000. It’s not cheap, but it will give you bragging rights for the rest of your life.

2. Be in a parade. Why watch a parade when you can BE the parade? There are five parades in the Sambadromo; however, there are also many spontaneous parades and people in costume outside the Sambadromo and throughout the city.

3. Attend a ball. In addition to parades, the next biggest draw during Carnival is the balls. And, yes, you need a ticket to attend one of the balls, which are essentially huge parties. But, act quickly, because some balls sell out quickly, including:

• Mangueira Ball
• Red and Black Ball
• City Ball
• A Night in Ibiza
• Ball of the Beer
• Gay Costume Ball

4.  Enjoy the music and the food. While many of the parades and balls don't get started until late, you can still enjoy the festivities with street parties, music and lots and lots of food. One popular street party, Cinelândia, is held every night during Carnival and hosts acclaimed musicians from around the world.

Okay, One Caveat

Carnival, both the parties and the parades, are known to get very risqué and nudity - at least partial nudity - is common. So, when I say there's something for everyone, that doesn't include children, at least for the parades and parties. However, if you're an adult and you love a wild time, then Carnival in Rio is something you'll want to consider. For ticket info, go to www.rio-carnival.net.

Here's a sample of what you'll find at the Carnival: