Top Tips for Throwing a Brazilian Themed Party

Set the Atmosphere

If you have hired an event venue, then you want to immerse your guests in the Brazilian atmosphere from the moment they walk through the door. One of the best ways to do this is to hire some Brazilian dancers. They can set the scene with their colourful costumes and are sure to entertain people as they arrive. Of course, having the appropriate music playing is a big must and it is sure to help propel your guests into the spirit of things.

Don’t Forget to Decorate

Carnival in Brazil is an explosion of bright and bold colours so when decorating your venue, be sure to include lots of reds, pinks, and oranges. While this may sound like a departure from the traditional Brazilian greens and yellow, it will be far livelier and it is important not to be too narrow in your theming. Rather, think of trying to catch peoples’ eyes and give them a visual feast. You can also look for decorations such as colourful ostrich features, steel barrels and carnival backdrops. You could even go as far as to buy feather masks for your guests to wear. At the same time, you can do a huge amount with lighting, particularly around the bar area, and a large display piece of tropical fruit would certainly not go amiss.

Embrace Brazilian Cuisine

There are plenty of Brazilian foods that you can offer your guests. You can start with Brazilian appetizers such as cheese bread and stuffed crab shells. You could then follow it up with dishes such as chicken bobo, a Brazilian speciality in which yucca root is boiled in chicken broth together with onions, peppers and chicken. Alternatively, you could offer shrimp moqueca, a fantastic stew. Another option is to go in the street food direction. Guest will love seeing Carnival style food carts with authentic Brazilian food such as Churrasco BBQ Beef and Lamb with Chimichurri Sauce and churros with chocolate sauce.

Keep the Drinks Flowing

There is no way that you can have a Brazilian themed party without offering guests Caipirinha to drink. Not only is it fantastically refreshing, but also it is alcoholic enough to ensure that guests will lose their inhibitions and dance late into the night.

The main ingredient of Caipirinha is cachaça, which is Brazil’s national spirit. As such, Caipirinha can be considered the national drink of Brazil. Similar to rum, cachaça is made from sugar cane, but it is processed in a different way. It produces a sweet drink that is very often completely clear, as it needs to be aged for just one year.

The cocktail is then made by pummelling lime and demerara sugar in a glass using a wooden stick. It is topped with crushed ice and cachaça before being stirred. The drink can then be customised with fresh fruits and various sugars. For example, many people will use honey instead of sugar and choose to use blueberries as well. Another popular choice is watermelon.

You can also offer your guests Brazilian beers, such as Antarctica, Brahma and Skol. Lesser known Brazilian beers include Indica IPA, made in Saõ Paolo and Devassa’s Tropical Red Ale.

Don’t Let the Music Stop

You can’t have a party without music and it is going to be a core component of any Brazilian themed event that you choose to run. While the guests are enjoying their cocktails and food, you could have a band playing lounge samba or some relaxing Latin American music. It is a great way to introduce guests to the style of the music and get their feet tapping.

After the caipirinhas begin to take effect then it may be time to move towards some more traditional Brazilian rhythms such as samba, complete with the famous drummers. If your budget allows it, then why not hire some professional dancers to give samba lessons. That way even those who have never danced before while be able to join in the party and keep dancing all night long.

Consider Some Entertainers

Depending on the scale of your event, you may wish to consider hiring some Brazilian style entertainers. It is a great way to keep the authentic atmosphere going and to ensure that your guests remain engaged at all times.

The exact entertainers available to you will of course depend on your location, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find some. For instance, Carmen Miranda tribute acts are hugely popular. Many believe that Carmen Miranda was the greatest Brazilian artist of all times and she had a huge influence on the country’ culture throughout her career as a theatre actress, film star, singer and samba dancer. A good tribute act will perform her most famous hits while engaging with the audience in the style that Carmen was so well known for. One of the great things about Carmen Miranda is that she mastered so many different styles within the Brazilian genre, which means a good tribute act can be suitable for almost any type of event.

You could also consider hiring a Brazilian dance troupe. There are professional Brazilian dancers available across the world and they never fail to amaze with their glamour and excitement. A good dance troupe will be able to perform in numerous Brazilian styles such as Brazilian Axé, Capoeira, Afro Brazilian Dance and Baile Fun, and if you are considering hiring a Brazilian style band, then very often the two will come together, even with a full complement of samba drummers.

Capoeira, the Brazilian martial art, is now famous across the world. It combines dance, acrobatic, fighting and games, into an amazing display of athleticism, and it is an art form in its own right. Your guests are sure to love watching a display that incorporates traditional instruments, such as the berimbau, tambourine and drums, together with singing and chanting. You could even ask them to run a basic class at the event so that those who are interested can try it for themselves.

A Scaled Back Option

All of the above tips are fantastic if you are going to be running a large event in a big venue. However, if you are thinking of a smaller event at home, then many of them can be adapted. For instance, you can easily learn how to make some Brazilian food and drink, and it isn’t hard to put together a playlist.

If you want to offer your guests something a bit different, then introduce them to Spin Rio! Similarly, if you just want a solo Brazilian themed evening at home then we have the perfect solution. Mix yourself a caipirinha cocktail and then logon to enjoy our Brazilian themed games. They can transport your straight into the carnival atmosphere and with a bit of luck, you could even land enough winnings to treat yourself to a trip to next year’s Carnival.