(VOVworld) – Rio Carnival, one the most spectacular street festivals in the world, will begin on Friday, turning Brazil into a hot tourist destination with its exciting ambience, upbeat music, and flashy dancing.

A gold Samba parade 2016 (Photo: Sputnik News)

Carnival originated in the ancient festivals of the Romans and Greeks, celebrating spring and beauty. The European-style festival was introduced to Brazil as an annual street ball and parade with revelers dressed up in costumes. The Guinness Book of Records rates Rio Carnival the most popular festival in the world, attracting an average of half a million visitors a year.

The festival begins with a symbolic hand-over of a key to the city to carnival King Momo, who leads dancers to Rio’s Sambadrome Avenue. Each one of the participating samba schools performs for over an hour, using drum beats, fireworks, spectacular lighting, loud music and singing by performers dressed as kings, queens, princesses, princes, and warriors. The heart of the festival is a parade in the Sambadrome followed by colorful street parties.

The second parade depicting ocean 2016 (Photo: Sputnik News)

This year’s Carnival will attract about 1 million visitors and take in a revenue of nearly 1.9 billion USD. The Brazilian Confederation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC) estimates that catering service will see their revenue increase 57%, followed by lodging and transportation services. Rio de Janeiro, the main venue of the Carnival, will earn 770 million USD and Sao Paulo 480 million USD.

One week before Carnival, thousands of Brazilians take to the streets to sing and dance, with men wearing women’s costumes, drawing crowds of spectators. Samba schools have been rehearsing all year and 9,000 troops have been deployed in Rio for security.

People from around the world are looking forward to enjoying the vibrant sounds of Samba and some dazzling street performances over the next few days.