Uruguayan Carnaval is different from many others. Most of it happens in the neighbourhoods, not just in the city centre. Every neighbourhood builds its own outdoor stage, called a 'tablado', where groups come to perform on different nights. Families bring chairs, neighbours bring snacks, children sit cross-legged at the front.
Two parades stand out as the biggest of the season. The Desfile Inaugural ('Opening Parade') marches down 18 de Julio Avenue in the centre of Montevideo, with thousands of performers in glittering costumes. A few weeks later, the Desfile de Llamadas ('Call Parade') fills the streets with candombe drums - dozens of groups, each with their own colours, walking and drumming together.
Different kinds of groups perform in Carnaval. Murga groups sing songs about the year. Candombe groups drum and dance through the streets. Other groups perform comedy sketches, children's plays or stories from Uruguayan history. Each group practises for months to put on the best possible show.
Children grow up part of Carnaval. Many primary schools have their own little Carnaval show before the school year ends in December - with pupils painting their own faces, making cardboard hats and singing simple songs about their school year. By the time they are 10, most Uruguayan children know dozens of Carnaval songs by heart.