Brazil’s most famous party went on despite weather worries. Not only was a historic drought plaguing the Southeast of the country, but also torrential rains wet Rio revelers as they witnessed the famous Samba school competition that happens there each year. CCTV’s Lucrecia Franco was in Rio de Janeiro for the event.

An extravagant display of color, splendor and the best of Samba. The show is breathtaking. It is billed as the biggest show on Earth, so for a display of that magnitude, it seems weather can’t stop it, right?

Of the nearly five thousand participants at Samba School Unidos da Tijuca, the current champion academy, the dancers there, or “passistas” as they’re called in Brazilian Portuguese, are the star attraction.

CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke to Rachel Biderman about the historic drought that plagued parts of Brazil