A Brazilian Carnival parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris sounds like something that should not exist but does, every year, with the kind of energy that makes you wonder why anyone bothers with the more organized events.

The parade featured troupes of Brazilian and Latin American performers who had spent months preparing costumes and choreography for a route that runs along one of the most famous avenues in the world. The scale of the preparation, visible in the detail of the costumes and the precision of the formations, was impressive.

It rained throughout the entire event. Not light rain but consistent, genuine Paris autumn rain that soaked through every layer of clothing within the first thirty minutes. The performers continued without any visible adjustment to their energy level. The costumes, which had taken months to make, absorbed the water and were damaged. The performers kept dancing.

The crowd watching along the Champs-Elysees was a mix of Parisians, tourists, and members of the Brazilian and Latin American communities in Paris who had come specifically to support the troupes. The combination of a famous French avenue, Brazilian carnival music, and heavy rain produced an atmosphere that could not have been planned.

This event is free to watch and takes place annually. The date varies so check the Paris events calendar in advance. If you are in Paris when it happens, go and stand on the avenue. The rain, if it comes, is part of the experience.