In Pictures: Stunning costumes and nonstop street parties at Brazil Carnival

Raquel Poti performs on stilts during the Amigos da Onca Carnival street party in Rio de Janeiro (Bruna Prado/AP)

Carnival celebrations returned to Brazilian cities with glittery, outrageous costumes, samba rhythms ringing out until dawn and hundreds of raucous roaming parties flooding the streets.

Carnival King Momo, Danilo Vieira, receives the key of the city from Mayor Eduardo Paes during a ceremony officially kicking off Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)