The second largest party in the country, New Year’s Eve in Brazil brings together more than 2 million people from around the world on its world-famous beaches. Rio de Janeiro is kicking off the yearlong celebration of its 450^th anniversary with a special set of musical performances all over the city during this year’s Reveillion (New Year’s Eve in Portuguese) party.

The municipality recently announced Rio will feature 27 different stages in nine districts of Rio: Park da Madureira, Piscinão de Ramos, Penha, Ilha do Governador, Ilha de Paqueta, Flamengo, Pedra de Guaratiba and Sepetiba and Copacabana Beach. Partygoers will ring in the New Year with 27 hours of non-stop music and acts by 28 attractions.

Main headliners include Seu Jorge, internationally known Rio native and a singer-songwriter who has recently moved to and performs in Los Angeles; Maria Rita, Latin Grammy winner for Best New Artist; and Titas, a native São Paulo band that sold more than 6.3 million albums. Starting as early as 6 p.m., Reveillon celebrations offer outside concerts, samba dancing, funk music, 24-hour bars and fireworks until sunrise.

Revelers in Brazil traditionally wear white as a symbolic gesture to welcome peace and prosperity in the New Year as well as eat typical Brazilian foods, such as lentils and pork, and drink Champagne to increase their luck. Many also run into the ocean to jump over seven waves, making a wish for the New Year with every wave jumped.

Both locals and travelers make it a point to please Goddess lemanjá, “Queen of the Ocean” in the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé, with gifts such as floating candles, wooden toy boats and white flowers in the ocean. If the offerings are sent back to shore, the Goddess is said to be displeased and will not grant wishes for the New Year. Thousands participate in the offerings of Goddess lemanjá, and for visitors witnessing this ritual it is an extraordinary sight to see.