One of the most popular New Year’s Eve destinations in the world, Brazil’s famous celebration in Rio de Janeiro is hoping to make a comeback this year after being postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic
The legendary party and fireworks display on Copacabana beach each year brings people from all over the world, and in 2019, according to official data, around three million people attended the party. However the pandemic meant that the 2020 edition was somewhat different, with the idea being to have people following the online celebrations from their own homes via virtual broadcasts.
1. Return to normal
This year, however, the party hopes to return to the beach, according to an announcement made by Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes during an interview on local broadcast TV on July 30th. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic not yet being under control, the Mayor stated that he is confident Rio’s population will be fully vaccinated by October 2021. He said that Rio City Hall has already started planning the party in Copacabana Beach and other areas of Rio on December 31st, with Copacabana predicted to host three locations along the beach featuring, live concerts and of course the fireworks show. The latter has been a tradition since the seventies, lasting 15 minutes with different themes and fireworks accompanied by classical music.
If Rio’s Health department comes to the conclusion that it is not possible to have the event because of the growing numbers of Delta variant, we will immediately cancel it. If everything goes in the right direction, Rio will have the best New Year’s Eve party ever.
Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
2. Criticism
However, Rio’s Health department warns that despite preparations for the party taking place, this does not necessarily guarantee that the festivities will take place. “The New Year’s Eve celebrations are conditioned to the epidemiological scenario of the pandemic in the capital,” they stated. The Mayor acknowledged this risk but assured that at the moment the city is heading in the right direction regarding Covid case and hospitalisation figures, and that he is counting the days to announce the sanitary crisis is under control. Rio New Year’s Eve celebration is beaten only in size by Carnival, which was also confirmed to be returning in 2022.
