The Carnatal (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaʁnaˈtaw]) is the largest micareta, or off-season Carnival, in Brazil.
It is held annually in December in the city of Natal in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.
Like other micaretas, Carnatal is different from the samba dance school parades popular in Rio de Janeiro.
The central feature of a micareta is a large truck or lorry called a "trio elétrico".
A bloco is an enterprise which obtains permission to participate in Carnatal, hires the band, sells admittance and controls access to a cordoned area around the trio elétrico.