STORY: Rio de Janeiro, the city known for its glitter and colorful carnivals, adopted a spooky, darker tone on Saturday (October 31) during a Halloween parade in the city.

Organized by Planta na Mente, a street party group that advocates for marijuana legalization, participants in zombie, monster and terror costumes danced and celebrated Halloween with a pre-Carnival spirit under the name “Day of the Dead Plants.”

One participant, Felipe, who did not provide their surname, said the global festivity of Halloween is an excuse to move the Carnival mood forward in time, adding that it helps people "express our reality outside of everyday life."

Rio’s Carnival celebrations will kick off on February 5.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (OCTOBER 31, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. WOMEN DANCING IN HALLOWEEN-THEMED COSTUMES.

2. PERSON PLAYING A REPINIQUE DRUM

3. MUSICIANS FROM THE PLANTA EN LA MENTE GROUP PLAYING IN THE STREET

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DANCING DURING PARADE

5. PEOPLE SMOKING

6. PARTICIPANTS DANCING

7. VARIOUS OF BAND PLAYING

8. PARTICIPANTS IN COSTUMES

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MUSICIAN, DANIELA CUNHA, SAYING:

“We are celebrating Halloween and anything goes. We can be skeletons, death, witches, or whatever we want. It’s a mix, and Rio de Janeiro is Brazil. That’s why I think everything here is fantastic, and thank God I live in Rio de Janeiro and take part in this.”

10. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS DANCING ON STILTS

11. MUSICIANS PLAYING

12. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS DANCING

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SYSTEMS ANALYST, FELIPE, SAYING:

“It’s a moment (ed’s note: referring to Halloween) we manage to bring the reality of Carnival, and it’s how we manage to express our reality outside of everyday life.”

14. VARIOUS OF A PERSON PUTTING ON COSTUME MASK AND LOOKING INTO CAMERA

15. VARIOUS OF PARADE ONGOING